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Kathie and Gypsev. Page 37. 











LvATHIB’S 

SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


BY 



AMANDA M. DOUGLAS, 

flaXHOB OF “ kathie’s three wishes,” “kathie’s aunt ruth,” ‘‘kathie’s 

SOLDIERS,” “ IN THE RANKS,” “ KATHIE’S HARVEST DAYS,” 

'“in TRUST,” ETC. 


> 


BOSTON: 

LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. 

V.. 












25237 


Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by 
LEE AND SHEPARD, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
Copyright, 1898, by Amanda M, Douglas, 

All Rights Reserved. 

Kathie’s Summer at Cedarwood. 


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101399 




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Nortoooli 33 te 0 B: 

Berwick & Smith, Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 


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TO 


WILLIE L. OSBOEH, 

ASD BIS LITTLE SISTEBS, 


LOUISE AND GERTIE. 
"VToodside, 1870. 











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1. KATHIE’S THREE WISHES. 

2. KATHIE’S AUNT RUTH. 

3. KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 

4. KATHIE’S SOLDIERS. 

5. IN THE RANKS. 


6. KATHIE’S HARVEST DAYS. 



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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. 

Page 

Home again 9 

CHAPTER II. 

A Bird’s Wisdom and a Boy’s Wisdom ... 30 

CHAPTER III. 

On the Right Side 47 

CHAPTER lY. 

Rob’s Essay as a Sailor 68 

CHAPTER V. 

Miss Jessie’s Namesake 89 

CHAPTER VI. 

How Freddy went to Sea 108 

CHAPTER YII. 


Kathie’s GtARDENING 


. 12G 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

On the Lake 


CHAPTER IX. 

Rob’s Chivalry 


CHAPTER X. 

Pleasures and Pains .... 

CHAPTER XI. 

A Pleasure Party .... 

CHAPTER XII. 

The First Day out .... 

CHAPTER XIII. 
A Night in the Woods. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The Last of the Summer 


145 


165 


182 


201 


218 


236 


252 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTEll I. 

HOME AGAIN. 

It seemed to Katliie Alston, after her long stay in 
the city, that Cedarwood was lovelier than ever. It 
was March too, a very dismal month for beauty, and 
I am afraid almost any one else would have thought 
it dreary when the sun shone on the leafless trees 
and over the frozen ground. But Kathie had a pair 
of magic spectacles through which everything looked 
bright, and then she was so glad to be at home once 
more. 

She could hardly believe her eyes when she came 
down to breakfast. Tliere was Aunt Euth walking 
round with Freddy, to the cliild’s great delight. And 
though Kathie was quite accustomed to seeing her 
go without her crutch at Dr. Markham’s, it looked 
strange here. 

Is n’t it odd ? ” exclaimed Eob, noticing Kathie’s 


10 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


surprise. “ Why, it does n’t look a bit like Aunt 
Ruth ! I actually ran for her crutch this morning.” 

Kathie laughed and kissed her. 

“ Does n’t it seem good to be at home once more, 
auntie ? It is the next nicest thing to being well.” 

Hannah brought in the breakfast, and Uncle Robert 
made his appearance. 

“ Good morning, my little girl,” he said. 

“ I believe I overslept myself,” began Kathie. “I 
have been used to lying abed late, and so fallen into 
bad habits. Have you been up long, and what have 
you done ? ” 

“Did you suppose that he had gone to garden- 
ing ? ” asked Rob, mirthfully. 

“Well, it will soon be time.” 

“We shall have half a dozen snow-storms yet.” 

“ 0, I can’t believe it. Do you think we shall, 
Uncle Robert ? ” 

“ I dare say ” ; and there was a twinkle in his eye. 

“ Did you have a good time sleigh-riding, Rob ? ” 
Kathie asked. 

“ 0, it was jolly ! And the ponies Rked it as 
much as anybody.” 

“ The dear little fellows ! I must go out and see 
them after breakfast.” 


HOME AGAIN. 


11 


And my rabbits and guinea-pigs,” put in Fred, 
pleadingly. 

“ 0, and my bird ! ” exclaimed Kathie. Where is 
it, Uncle Robert ? ” 

In Aunt Ruth’s room.” 

He has grown so cunning, Kathie,” said Rob. 

He will sit on your finger, and kiss you, and when 
he does n’t like anything he will scold in the most 
comical manner.” 

“ There are so many things to see that it will take 
me all day to get round ” ; and Kathie laughed. 

“ I wish it was Christmas and I could stay at 
home,” said Rob. “ There is so much to show you.” 

“I ’ll have to be Kathie’s guide,” rejoined her 
uncle. 

“ For I feel very strange and I might get lost. It 
does n’t seem hardly as if I had ever lived here. 
And yet what a lovely time we had last summer 
settling everything ! ” 

It was growing quite late, and the boys had to 
start off to school, which they did rather regretfully. 
It was a great pleasure to have sunshiny little Kathie 
at home again. Rob really envied his uncle the de- 
liuht of escorting her about. 

O O 


12 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


She stood by the window watching them and nod- 
ding gayly. When they were out of sight she 
turned to Aunt Euth. 

“ Do you feel quite well this morning ? ” she asked. 

“ Yes, only a little tired, and I shall soon recover 
from that. Indeed, I feel as if I might get fat and 
rosy now.” 

“ I hope you will. Dear Aunt Euth, it is so nice to 
have such a pretty home, and to see you well again.” 

For ever since Kathie could remember Aunt Euth 
had been lame and an invalid. If Uncle Eobert had 
not come home with a fortune, none of these nice 
things would have happened, and Kathie softly 
breathed a little praj^er of thankfulness. She felt 
amply repaid for her long stay at Dr. Markham’s, 
though she had missed home sadly. Since she had 
been a pleasure and a comfort to Aunt Euth through 
that time of suffering, she was content and satisfied. 
It seemed now as if she had nothing to do but enjoy 
herself Her heart was as light as a feather. 

They went up stairs together. Aunt Euth’s room 
looked as if it might be summer. The bay-window 
was full of vines and flowers in bloom. Besides the 
ivy and the hanging-baskets, there were numberless 


HOME AGAIN. 


13 


odd littlo things that caught Kathie’s attention. One 
was a wineglass full of tall, beautiful grass. Stand- 
ing on a tiny black- walnut bracket, it looked almost 
as if it was growing out of the wall. Kathie ex- 
amined it more closely. 

“ Why,’’ she said, “ there 's something in the 
glass.” 

Uncle Eobert laughed and answered, pine 
cone.” 

“ How did you do it ? ” and she turned a curious 
face towards him. 

“ I sowed grass-seed thickly in the cone and then 
kept it upright in the water. The grass soon began 
to grow.” 

" Is n’t it odd and beautiful, Aunt Euth ? And 
0, you have an aquarium ! ” 

^‘That ’s Eob’s.” 

Did he do it himself ? ” 

“ Partly. He was going to surprise you with it at 
Christmas ; but as you did not come, he concluded to 
keep his secret. I wonder that he did not rush you 
up here this morning.” 

0, see the gold-fish ! How lovely they look 
diving about ! And this calla has budded.” 


14 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“Yes. Kob will soon have a blossom.” 

“ And there ’s my darling Gypsy. You little pet, 
you don’t know me at all ! ” 

Gypsy turned up his round black eye in a most 
comical fashion, and pulled out his tuft of black 
feathers to make himself look as jaunty as possible. 

“ Gypsy ! ” said Uncle Eobert. 

“ Peep ! pe-e-p ! ” replied Gypsy, in the most musi- 
cal of voices. 

“ Good morning to your highness ! ” 

Gypsy nodded his head very sagely, and gave 
them half a dozen notes of a song, as if he were 
merely hinting what he might do if he chose. 

“ Would you like to come out ? ” 

Down went Gypsy to the bottom of his cage, and 
his beady eyes were full of expectation. Uncle 
Eobert opened the door. 

With something that sounded Eke a shout of tri- 
umph, Gypsy winged his way across the room, and 
then back again to the flowers. Here he gave a long, 
exultant warble that nearly deafened them all. 
Kathie tried to approach him, but he was very shy 
about making friends. 

“You have charmed him. Uncle Eobert. I am 


HOME AGAIN. 


15 


afraid he will never love me again,” Kathie ex- 
claimed, regretfully. 

“ I think he is a fellow of very decided preferences, 
but I have a fancy that he will return to his alle- 
giance. Dogs and kittens always love you, Kathie,” 
was her uncle’s consolation. 

“ Mrs. Havens has such a beautiful large Maltese 
cat. His fur is short and soft as satin. He would 
not make friends with everybody, but the first time I 
stayed to tea he came and curled up in my lap.” 

“ I think you understand the science of charm- 
ing,” returned Uncle Eobert, with a laugh. 

But on this occasion Gypsy was proof against it, 
and presently lie went back to his abode. When 
Kathie put her finger to the wire of the cage he flut- 
tered his wings and began to scold. 

Leaving Aunt Euth in her crimson easy-chair, 
Kathie and Uncle Eobert began their tour. Of 
course the new piano must be inspected again. It 
was very beautiful by daylight and exceedingly fine 
in tone. Kathie ran her fingers over the keys with 
the utmost satisfaction. 

Why, it is as nice as Ada’s,” she said. 

Suppose it had not been ? ” 


16 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ 1 should have been delighted with it just the 
same. Only I am glad. Ada seems to believe that 
no one can have an article of any kind quite as good 
as hers.” 

“ How did you and Ada get along ? Did you 
make a very romantic friendship ? ” and there was 
an odd little look in the questioner’s eye. 

“ What would a romantic friendship be like, Uncle 
Eobert?” 

He laughed, but Kathie was a trifle perplexed. 

“ Why, I suppose in such a case you would want to 
see her daily when you could, and write to her two 
or three times a week.” 

“ Then it is n’t at all romantic. I don’t believe we 
shall write, though she is coming to make me a visit 
this summer.” 

There was no reply, and presently she said, “ Do 
you think that I ought to have loved Ada more. 
Uncle Eobert ? Occasionally we had very nice times, 
but so often she would say something to make 
me uncomfortable. I really do love the Gardiner 
girls better, and Mary Cox, and ever so many others. 
And though Ada is a good deal like a woman in some 
respects, I am very much happier with Miss Jessie. 
Is it wrong ? ” 


HOME AGAIN. 


17 


“ No, my dear child. While I do not believe in 
any person’s taking unreasonable fancies, I still think 
one’s own heart is the surest guide. But you and 
Ada did not disagree ? ” 

“ We never quarrelled or disputed, if that is what 
you mean. Uncle Eohert,” hesitatingly, “I would 
like to tell you something.” 

“Well, my little dear,” was the encouraging reply. 

Kathie opened her heart about the Sunday evening. 
She told her story very simply, yet her uncle could 
see that she had not forgotten all the pain. 

“ I am glad that you had the courage to do right,” 
he replied, gravely. “ I should have been very sorry 
if I had heard of your singing songs for mere pleasure 
at such a time. Yet I know what a struggle it must 
have been.” 

“ It was dreadful for me to say no. Uncle Eohert. 
It looked so disobliging when the ladies had all been 
kind to me, and then Ada thought that it was because 
I did not want her to be praised. Mrs. Meredith was 
very much annoyed, and I ’m afraid Mr. Edward 
Meredith did not believe at first that my motive was 
simply to do right.” 

“ It is very painful to be misunderstood in such a 


18 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


case, or to have others think that you are doing it 
simply for effect. There are many things in this 
world quite hard to bear, Kathie, but you know the 
Apostle said we were to take just such reproofs 
patiently, for it was no merit when we were buffeted 
for our faults. And I am glad my little girl was not 
tempted to give an angry or impatient reply. Did 
you tell Aunt Euth ? ” 

I could n’t that night, you know, for the doctor 
had forbidden any talking at bedtime. I cried myself 
to sleep, I felt so badly, and wished that I could 
come home to you and mamma.” 

“ Still that was not particularly Ada’s fault. She 
was thoughtless about it, to be sure, but I hope you 
did not evince any displeasure toward her.” 

Kathie smiled a little through the tears in her eyes, 
as she answered, “ I could not do anything but wait, 
for of course I had no cliance to ask tliem to take me 
into favor, but I was very glad when they did.” 

The Merediths are very worldly people. They are 
striving to lead holy lives, so we cannot blame 
them quite as much as those of greater pretensions. 
Your mamma was rather alarmed at first about Ada’s 
influence, but I knew that 3 0a could not go through 


HOME AGAIN. 


19 


life without some temptations. I think you have 
stood the ordeal very well.” 

“But, Uncle Eobert, I sometimes feel as if I ought 
to have loved Ada. She was kind in a great many 
ways and liked to have me come. When she did 
not say things to trouble me we were real happy.” 

“ What kind of things, Kathie ? ” 

The child colored, for all she could think of just at 
that moment was the conversation about her Uncle 
and Miss Jessie. Many of the other little stings 
and thrusts had been too intangible to repeat. 

Uncle Eobert folded his hands about the crimson 
face and repeated his question. 

“ There was one subject that Aunt Euth said was 
gossip,” Kathie went on, slowly. 

“ If it is about the Merediths, you had better not 
repeat it,” was his grave rejoinder. 

“Ko, it was about you. Uncle Eobert, I think I 
would rather tell you. It gave me such a heart-ache, 
and it was at the time when Aunt Euth was so 
poorly, — before Christmas.” 

“ But why did n’t you confess your trouble when I 
was down ? You know that was part of our bar- 
gain that we should share one another’s burdens ” 


20 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOU. 


“ I could n’t then. I fancied that it might be true, 
and I did not want to appear selfish. But, 0 Uncle 
Eohert, the pain was n’t selfishness ! ” 

“ But I ’m quite in the dark about it ” ; and he 
smiled. 

“ Ada said you were going to marry Miss Jessie, 
and that it would make a great difference ; that you 
would not want us all here, nor love us as you did 
before. It made me very miserable, and I could not 
tell any one.” 

Uncle Robert gave a long, low whistle, and then a 
gay laugh. 

“ Upon my word. Miss Ada is a keen-eyed gossip. 
Did n’t she have some assistance in the matter ? ” 

She heard her mother talking about it, I believe.” 

Uncle Robert studied Kathie’s face. It was the 
very embodiment of guileless innocence. She cer- 
tainly had not been indiscreetly airing her limited 
knowledge. 

"‘Well, what did you say to it ?” he asked, in a 
peculiar tone, rather annoyed that Miss Jessie’s name 
should have been thus dragged into notice by com- 
parative strangers. 

“ 0, I could n’t believe it. I told Ada that we 


HOME AGAIN. 


21 


should all love each other, if you did send us away ” ; 
and Kathie hid her face on Uncle Eobert’s shoulder. 

“ My darling, I should not send you away. How 
did she come to fancy that ? ” 

“ But the fortune is yours, and we would not have 
any right to it,’' she said, slowly. 

Ada is able to look a long way into the future, it 
seems. I should have a right to do what I liked 
with my money ; and I think it would be very cruel 
to bring you here and accustom you to ease and com- 
fort when I should soon have to thrust you back into 
poverty. When I promised to be a father and friend 
to you all, it was not for a few months or a year, but 
for our whole lives, if it please God to spare us to 
one another.” 

So Aunt Euth said. But, Uncle Eobert — if it 
made you happier — when you are so good to us 
all — ” and Kathie’s voice quivered as she paused. 

“ Then you told Aunt Euth ? ” 

“ After a while — yes. We were talking over our 
troubles one day, — she had felt afraid that she never 
should get well.” 

“ It was rather critical at one time. And just 
then your burdens were made the heaviest, my poor 
child.” 


22 


KATHIE’S SUMMEK AT CEDARWOOD. 


But they all dropped off' like Pilgrim’s ; and 
Kathic smiled radiantly. 

“ Then Aunt Euth’s eyes were clearer ? ” 

The child colored. I ’d like you to be very 
happy/’ she said, slowly. 

“ I shall depend upon you for a good deal of my 
happiness,” he answered, glancing into the soft, 
sweet eyes. Did you enlighten Ada afterward ? ” 
“ 0 no. Indeed, she said that she would not like 
her uncle to marry, so after having had the pain 
myself it would have been unkind to make her 
suffer.” 

I am glad you thought so. We will keep our 
own counsel in this matter, as possibl}^ nothing may 
come of it. But you did have some trials, Kathie, 
and severer ones than I should have supposed.” 

“They are all ended now, and I am home once 
more. It gives one such a glad, happy feeling, — 
does n’t it ? and when I am by you I seem to be 
safe and stronger. But, Uncle Eobert, it was very 
pleasant, and I am not sorry that I went.” 

“ I am thankful that you had the courage to stay. 
It has been quite a discipline, and may prove useful 
to you in the years to come. And I am more than 


HOME again: 


23 


glad that you have not considered it necessary to 
copy Ada Meredith ” 

Kathie was silent some moments, then she said, in 
a rather perplexed tone, Uncle Eobert, is it insincere 
to like Ada some, and feel glad to be with her when 
she makes me happy, yet not love her in every re- 
spect ? ” 

My dear child, there are many really worthy 
people whom we cannot love in every respect. I 
think we find very few who suit us exactly, and then 
we may have some peculiarities that are annoying 
to others. So there must be a mutual patience to 
make the world go smoothly, you know ” ; and he 
gave her a sweet, cheery smile. 

“ jSTow I believe I have confessed most of the 
troubles ” ; and she smiled in turn. “ I begin to feel 
quite like old times.” 

Uncle Eobert pressed her to his heart, and then 
declared that they must visit the boys’ department, or 
there would be a great outcry ; so Kathie put on her 
cloak and hood, and to the barn they went. There 
were the ponies in their stalls, sleek and shining. 

“ 0 Hero, have you forgotten me ? ” and Katliie 
clasped her hands over the waving mane. 


24 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Hero pricked up his ears and surveyed Kathie out 
of his great black eyes. 

“ You dear old beauty ! ” 

At this Hero gave a joyful whinny, and put his 
nose in Kathie’s hand. 

Why, T do believe that he remembers ! ” she said, 
delightedly. “ I am your own little mistress. Hero, 
and to-morrow we will take a nice canter together.” 
Then she fed him some hay and talked to his com- 
panion, hut Hero felt rather inclined to he jealous. 

The guinea-pigs came next ; and they looked more 
cunning than ever, bobbing about, their eyes wonder- 
fully bright. The rabbits were quite a flourishing 
colony, but exceedingly shy at first. 

“ They are veiy fond of Freddy. The boys have 
had a good deal of enjoyment in the barn on rainy 
days.” 

But the pound still flourishes ? ” said Kathie, 
with a smile in her eyes. 

Yes. Though somewhat on the decline, I still 
find it a useful institution. Freddy has grown much 
more careful.” 

'' How good you are to take so much trouble with 
us all. Uncle Kobert ! ” she said, gratefully. 


HOME AGAIN. 


25 


“ It is part of my duty, dear child.” 

Tliey must go to the Morrisons’ cottage, for Hugh 
insisted upon that. There was grandmother in her 
snowy cap, hut rather feeble with a March cold, 
“ which had taken a powerful hold,” she said. Jamie 
was bright and full of smiles ; but the baby had 
grown wonderfully, and could say ever so many 
words. Kathie played with it awhile, for she was 
very fond of children. 

So by the time they arrived at home it was noon. 
Kathie found that her mother had been unpacking ; 
and when she saw her dresses hanging up in the 
wardrobe, a great qualm of conscience came over 
her. Mamma,” she said, regretfully, ‘‘ it was very 
thoughtless in me to go off and leave all this work 
for you to do ; why did n’t you call me ? ” 

I thought you ought to have a little indul- 
gence to-day, at least ; but I have not taken care of 
all the articles. There are your books and various 
little keepsakes. Have you been enjoying your look 
about ? 

" 0, very much ; and I have had a good talk with 
Uncle Kobert. It seems so nice once in a while to 
confess all the things that have troubled you.” 


26 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Mrs. Alston glanced up suddenly ; but tlie l)rigbt 
face looked now as if it had never known an anxious 
thought. 

Kathie busied herself restoring her room to its 
olden order, and put away the traces of her long 
absence. 

“ I feel now as if we had nothing to do but enjoy 
ourselves,” she said to Aunt Euth. ‘Mt seems to me 
that I shall be full of happiness. I have had all my 
wishes and am more than satisfied. Spring is com- 
ing, and we can make garden and take lovely long 
rambles. I never realized how splendid it would be 
to have you well.” 

“ I give thanks for it every hour,” was the low 
sweet reply. 

The bell rang for lunch, and after that Kathie did a 
little practising until the boys came home, when Eob 
insisted upon her going to drive. Freddy thought it 
very hard. He had several Christmas games that 
he wanted her to play with him, and ever so many 
books, besides a village that was a great puzzle to 
build. And she had n’t seen his playhouse at all ’ 

“ I ’ll take a glimpse of that while the horses are 
getting harnessed,” she said, cheerfully, and followed 


HOME AGAIN. 


27 


Fred up stairs two steps at a time, a proceeding 
which he vainly tried to emulate. 

''And to-morrow I will look at all the rest,” she 
continued. 

Eoh felt quite proud of his sister, it must be con- 
fessed. He thought she had grown very pretty, and 
then she had a certain style that he liked. It was 
not affectation or " trying to shine ” as the boys said, 
but the air and self-possession that one invariably 
gains in society. Kathie had been thrown so much 
upon her own judgment and resources that in some 
respects she was quite womanly. It was fortunate 
for her that vanity had so small a share in the 
qualities that went to make up her character. 

Kob had become quite a fancy driver, and the 
ponies were in fine spirits. Kathie enjoyed it very 
much, and as they passed familiar faces she was 
greeted with nods and smiles. 

" I ’ve rechristened my pony,” he announced to 
Kathie. " You know I named him Star first, on ac- 
count of the white star in his breast, but he did not 
seem to take to- that much, so I have called him 
J asper.” 

" I like that better for a horse,” replied Kathie. 


28 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


''And Uncle Eobert has been getting them in 
splendid trotting order. Just see how they go ! ” 

They kept step as if all the feet belonged to one 
body, and never broke in the slightest movement. 

" It ’ll be royal this summer,” Eob went on. 
" School closes about the middle of June, and there 
will be a long gay time to enjoy one’s seE. Uncle is 
going to get a boat, sure ! ” 

" Have you grown any more interested in school ? ” 
asked Kathie, a little timidly. 

" O, well — yes. I think I do like it better. 
There ’s one thing which exactly suits me, and that ’s 
chemistry. 0, have n’t we had some high experi- 
ments, though ! I take to that, I tell you ! And I 
get along pretty well with Latin, but it ’s awful 
tough work. I shall not be a bit sorry to have vaca- 
tion come, for I think recreation rather agrees with 
my constitution.” 

Kathie laughed. 

When they came home they found Miss Jessie 
there. Uncle Eobert gave Kathie an odd little look, 
and squeezed her hand. 

" I think it would be real nice,” she whispered, 
" if you would only love us ail the same, and I guess 
you would.” 


HOME AGAIN. 


29 


But the delightful freedom of Miss Jessie’s man- 
ner was not love. She felt toward Uncle Kobert as 
a dear friend, and she knew, moreover, that he must 
have mistrusted her secret, which was another link to 
draw them together. But Kathie kept hers with 
wise and graceful tact. 


30 


KAllllE’S SLIMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTEE II. 

A bird’s wisdom and a boy’s wisdom. 

"What do you suppose that I am going to do with 
myself, Uncle Eohert ? ” Kathie asked after she had 
been home about a week. " I ’ve visited all tlie girls, 
put my house in order, and since Aunt Euth is so 
well there is very little for me to do. I used to wait 
upon her a great deal, but now she can walk about 
and help herself. And mamma’s wonderful machine 
does all the sewing.” 

" Are you afraid of getting indolent ? ” he replied, 
with a mirthful smile. " That would he a sad state 
of affairs.” 

“ Am I never going to school again ? ” 

" It is hardly worth while now, as the summer will 
so soon he here. I have spoken to Mr. Lawrence 
about your music.” 

'• Oh ! Kathie said, slowly. 

" I fancy that you will find him very pleasant.” 

"But he has such stern-looking eyes, and they are 
always flashing about when you least expect it.” 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 


31 


" Then the pupils will have to be attentive.” 

Mr. Lawrence was organist at one of the churches 
in Brookside, and was considered a very excellent 
teacher. 

“You will soon get used to him, Kathie.” 

“But I should have liked Miss Jessie better. 
Everybody says that she plays beautifully.” 

“We could not take so much hard work from her 
as a favor, you know, and it would be rather awk- 
ward to offer to pay her.” 

Kathie understood the case at once. 

“ And then we will amuse ourselves by reading up 
in several branches. I might begin French with you. 
I used to be a very fair scholar. So I think you will 
find enough to do, with the duties of daughter and 
sister added.” 

“ But they are very light,” said Kathie, with a 
smile. “ Freddy has improved wonderfully, and he 
is not half the trouble that he used to be. He does 
n’t always stop to ask .you ‘ Why ? ’ when you tell 
him to do anything.” 

“ Mamma has had more time to devote to him this 
winter. Going to school alone, too, he has had to 
learn to be more responsible for his own actions 


32 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


His bump of imitativeness is as large as a monkey’s, 
and it is very difficult for him to understand that 
what might be proper in a large boy is not admis- 
sible in him.” 

' Children are a good deal of trouble, — are n’t 
they, Uncle Eobert ? ” Kathie said, thoughtfully. 

“ Yes, my darling, it takes a great amount of love 
and patience to get along and do what is best. We 
all make mistakes, I suppose.” 

" I wish I could do something to help you and 
mamma,” was her slow, wistful answer. 

“ You do, my dear child. You have learned one of 
the most important lessons, — to think. So many of 
the faults of childhood arise from mere thoughtless- 
ness. Of course we cannot expect perfection from an 
immature brain, but when one has mastered this, the 
rest comes much easier. But it takes a deal of per- 
sistent tr3dng. I dare say that you had a hard time 
going up the Hill Difficulty.” 

''Yes, often. Aunt Euth helped me a good deal, 
telling me about the giants.” 

"She turned fairy-stories to a wise account, it 
seems. And as you grow older you will find many 
duties, though I do not wish my little girl to start 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 33 

with too heavy a burden. Your influence over Eoh 
will be no small thing.” 

“ But it does n’t seem that I have any influence 
over Rob,” Kathie said, in a rather discouraged tone. 

0 yes, you have. Rob is one of the boys who 
hate to be managed or preached to, or have a hint of 
the curb. And yet he is noble in many things, and 
has the making of a fine, energetic man in him. I 
was glad that you went out to drive with him the 
first day that you were home. As he grows up you 
must try to make your society attractive to him. I 
wish he was fond of music.” 

He does not dislike it.” 

“ 0 no ; but he thinks it rather feminine.” 

“ He never could endure anything girlish in a boy, 
though he likes Charlie Darrell now.” 

“ Charlie Darrell is a notable exception to most 
boys. He is not weak or Miss-Nancyish, but a 
gentleman in the truest acceptation of the term. In 
another way Rob is capable of making as fine a man, 
only one has perfect faith that Charlie will never go 
astray, while Rob might make a headlong plunge be- 
fore one was aware.” 

1 mean to try. Uncle Robert,” Kathie said, ear 


3 


34 


KATHIE’S SUMMEK AT CEDARWOOD 


nestly. “ I will not let him think that he is a trouble 
or in the way. 

That is just it, Kathie. Growing boys are very 
sensitive on this point. And if we can manage to 
keep him straight for the next three years, I think we 
may safely trust him afterward.” 

Kathie was quite proud of being taken into con- 
fidence. She was really trying to be as useful as 
possible to those around her. Sometimes, it is true, 
she would rather have followed her own devices, but 
she did generally think in time. 

''I wonder what is the matter with Gypsy?” 
Aunt Euth exclaimed an hour or two later, as they 
were in her room. Kathie had been reading aloud 
from the “ Queens of England,” and now left the 
room to take a lesson from Hannah in -making blanc- 
mange, for Mrs. Alston meant that she should become 
a thorough housekeeper. 

Uncle Eobert looked toward the cage. Gypsy was 
beating his breast against the bars, fluttering about, 
and uttering piteous cries. 

“ I suppose he wants to come out, though he does 
n’t generally take that method of showing it 
Gypsy!” 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 35 


G3rpsy paused a moment, but soon renewed his 
lamentations. 

“ I remarked it yesterday, and this morning he has 
had two such spells before. Poor fellow ! ” 

Uncle Kobert offered the captive his liberty. He 
accepted it with a bound, making a wild circuit of 
the room. Then he perched himself on the top of 
an oleander, but after a moment’s swing began his 
sorrowful cry again, drooping his wings and seeming 
to put his whole body in a position of mourning. 

“ It certainly is very singular ! Poor Gypsy, are 
you longing for your mates without ? ” 

Gypsy gave an appealing look and essayed another 
sweeping flight. 

“ I always feel sorry to have a bird imprisoned,” 
Aunt Ptuth said, regretfully. “ But Kathie loves him 
so dearly.” 

“ I am not sure that liberty would be any boon to 
him. He has known no life beyond the cage, and has 
been cared for tenderly.” 

Gypsy settled himself and began a low, sad song, 
making long pauses in it, as if he might be waiting 
for some one to answer. 

He has been a very happy, contented bird all 


36 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


winter,” said Uncle Eobert ; “ but perhaps the spring 
brings some troubled dream to him. If you could 
only tell me, Gypsy ! ” 

Gypsy was doing his best. The wail was a pathetic 
story set to rare music, and it was not his fault if his 
listener were slow to comprehend. 

In despair at length he ceased his song and went 
back to his cage, curling himself on the perch. 

I ’m afraid he is sick,” Uncle Eobert said, with 
much concern. 

Kathie finished her lesson in the kitchen, and as 
Hannah was busy, offered to set the lunch-table. 
Afterward she ran up to Aunt Euth’s room. 

“ Gypsy,” she called, in her cheery voice, as she 
opened the door. 

Gypsy, who seemed an instant before in the 
soundest of naps, stirred, shook himself, and answered 
in a gay little carol. 

Uncle Eobert laughed. Depend upon it that he 
was merely working upon our sympathies,” he said. 

'' What did he do ? ” asked Kathie. 

Made us believe that he was in the last stages of 
grief I expect he was crying after his mistress like 
a spoiled child. 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 37 


Gypsy was bright enough now. He sang at a 
deafening rate, taking Kathie’s should* for his perch, 
and turning his black eye at Uncle Eobert in the 
most comical manner. 

The bell rang for lunch. Kathie put him amongst 
the ivy branches and went towards the door, but 
Gypsy was there as soon. 

“ Why, I believe he did cry for Kathie,” said Uncle 
Eobert, “ and tliis looks as if he meant to follow her. 
Come back, Kathie, and see what he will do.” 

Gypsy flew after his mistress with a most contented 
little chirrup. 

" That is really it.” 

Sure enough. When she started he commenced a 
flight also. Through the hall, down the stairs, chirp- 
ing in a most delighted fashion. 

0 Uncle Eobert, is n’t it sweet ? To have him 
follow me and love me so much ! 0 you dear little 

precious ! ” and catching him she covered him with 
kisses. 

“ It is very peculiar.” 

He really was crying for me then. Shall I take 
him back ? ” She had liim cuddled in her hand, where 
he nestled in a most contented manner. 


38 


kathie’s summer at cedarwood 


“ We will indulge him this once,” said her niamma, 

There, Kathie, you have charmed him ! ” exclaimed 
her uncle. 

“ I wanted him to love me a little bit better than 
any one else, because he is my bird. But how cunning 
it will be to have him follow me about ! Did you 
ever know of a bird who did such a thing ? ” 

“ I have seen trained birds very obedient, and some 
of the men in Austraba used to tame birds to a won- 
derful degree, but this is quite unexpected.” 

" When I was a little, girl,” said Mrs. Alston, my 
grandfather had a tame robin that followed him, and 
I have heard that crows could be taught the same 
accomplishment.” 

But a canary-bird is such a darling creature,” said 
Kathie, fondly. 

“ And Gypsy has not been taught or trained. It 
must be a case of ardent love.” 

I noticed yesterday that he acted strangely,” said 
Aunt Euth, '' but that was the first.” 

“ What did he do ? ” asked Kathie. 

Uncle Eobert told the story. Kathie was so much 
interested that she hardly knew whether she ate any 
lunch or not, and then she was quite afraid that Gyp- 
sy would forget his lesson before he could repeat it. 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 


39 


No fear of that, however. Gypsy was as ready to 
go up stairs as he had been to come down, and he 
hopped about on the flowers contentedly, chirruping 
now and then to Kathie, and rolling his bright eyes 
or winking very knowingly, as if he meant to imply 
that Kathie and he understood all about it, and it 
really was not worth while to tell any one else. 

When the boys came home, Kathie had to make an 
exhibition of Gypsy. It was wonderful to Freddy. 
They went up to the top of the tower and down to the 
kitchen. 

“ Land alive ! ” exclaimed Hannah, what are you 
making such a racket about ? ” 

“Why it ’s Gypsy, and he follows Kathie all 
over,” announced Fred. 

“ 0, the window is up. Miss Kathie, — ” 

Gypsy had espied it and perched himself on the 
sill. Hannah stood with uplifted hands and Kathie’s 
heart beat rapidly with fear 

“ He will fly away,” said Eob. “ I ’ll go outside 
and startle him in.” 

Gypsy poured forth a melodious song. He ap- 
peared to be in the highest possible spirits. 

“ The dear creetur ! ” ejaculated Hannah. “ He 
does n’t really follow you, though ? ” 


40 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Don’t, Kob ! let me try him first,” for Kob had 
armed himself with Hannah’s kitchen apron and was 
about to make a demonstration on a grand scale. 

Come, Gypsy,” she said, in her soft voice, stand- 
ing in the doorway. 

But Gypsy had been experimented with consider- 
ably, and did not mean to be cheated. Wlien the 
last vestige of Kathie’s dress had disappeared Gypsy 
went skimming through the room and alighted on 
her shoulder, to be kissed rapturously. 

“ Well, I never saw" the beat ! ” exclaimed Hannah. 
“ And with the window open too, where he might 
ha’ gone out just as well as not. Bring him back 
please. Miss Kathie. Such a little mite too, and he 
knowing so much ! ” 

Bob entered the room and threw himself into a 
chair, looking very pale. 

“Why, what’s the matter with the boy?” said 
Hannah. “ You ain’t going to faint ?” 

‘‘ No,” — rather roughly. 

“ But you look so — sick,” Kathie rejoined in a 
tone of tender alarm. 

“ Only a little dizzy. I whisked around too sud 
denly out there.” 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 41 


Eob straightened himself up and took two or three 
steps, then made a rush for the sink-room, where 
there was always an abundance of empty pails and 
basins. 

Sick enough surely. Hannah bustled about and 
gave him a little dissolved soda to drink. He sat 
down pale as a ghost, great drops of perspiration 
standing out on his forehead. 

“ 0 Eob dear, can’t I do something for you ? ” said 
Kathie, with fondest solicitude. 

Ho. You and Freddy go up stairs. I ’ve been 
running around too much, so I ’ll lie down here a 
moment on Hannah’s lounge.” 

A queer excuse for Eob to make, — Eob who could 
tramp from morning till night. The children obeyed 
however, and took the news immediately to mamma, 
who was filled with concern. 

Freddy went back to the entertaining Gypsy. 

“ He ’s almost as nice as my parrot. Polly can’t 
fly like that, but then she can climb, and Gypsy can’t 
talk.” 

The parrot was not a universal favorite, and was 
seldom invited to Aunt Euth’s room. It screeched 
terribly, and had a bad temper, besides being mis- 


42 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


chievous ; therefore it was generally kept in Fred’s 
play-room except on Saturday, when he was home 
from school, when the two were allowed some extra 
indulgence. Now he was permitted to bring it down, 
and they had a good deal of fun. 

Mrs. Alston in the mean while had gone to the 
kitchen. Eob was rather vexed at all this attention ; 
but he could not very well be cross with his mother. 

“ Had you been eating anything ? ” she asked. 

“ No,” was the brief answer. 

“ Or over-exerting ? I think sometimes that you 
take the gymnasium too hard.” 

“ I have n’t been in the gymnasium to-day.” 

“ I really hope that you are not going to be ill.” 

Rob wished that he had let her think it was the 
turn-pole, or anything, so that she did not question 
him too closely. 

“ Does your head ache ? ”* 

“Yes.” 

It really seemed splitting to Eob just then, — as 
if a sledge-hammer was beating upon his temples. 

“ So sudden, too ; did you feel it when you came 
home ? ” 

“ A little ; then I ran round with Kathie and the 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 43 


oird, you know.” Eob felt that was an evasion, and 
he colored. His mother noticed it. 

“It is warm here, and I think you had better 
go up stairs, where it is cool and quiet. You may 
get over it without any further trouble.” 

Eob thought the advice very good. He made 
% great effort, but his head was weak and dizzy. 

“ Do you feel strong enough ? ” 

“ I guess so.” 

His mother arranged him nicely on the lounge In 
her room and bathed his face with cologne. She 
fancied that she detected a peculiar smell about his 
clothing. “ I ’ll send the parrot out to the barn,” she 
said, as he winced at one of its screeches ; and then 
she left him alone, for which he was very thankful. 

Freddy felt very badly at having his fun inter* 
rupted; but Kathie offered to go out to the barn 
with him and give him a good swing. 

“ And we ’ll feed the rabbits and guinea-pigs 1 
We ’ll have a jolly time, after all.” 

Kathie shut Gypsy in his cage, and told him to be 
a good little bird and not fret after her. He ap- 
peared to understand, or else he was hungry, for after 
two or three brief laments he went to cracking seed. 


44 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD: 


Polly always enjoyed excursions to the barn, for 
here she was allowed her liberty. She scrambled up 
and down, called to Hero and Jasper, told them to 
g’-lang,” “ hud-ap,” and made a peculiar clicking 
sound with her bill like the fastest whip on the road ; 
then she whistled and called Eover, who came tum- 
bling headlong and looked all round for Kob. 

‘‘Now you’re fooled!” shouted Polly, at which 
Eover slunk away terribly crestfallen. 

The children played until dusk, and Freddy de- 
clared that it had been splendid. He would n’t 
mind if Eob’s head ached every day. 

“ 0,” said Kathie, “ that would be too bad for j^oor 
Eob.” 

“Well, if it could ache without hurting him any.” 

“But it could not; and it is n’t pleasant to be 
sick.” 

Mrs. Alston had taken her seat and sewing very 
quietly after Polly and the younger ones had gone. 
She looked so exceedingly serious that presently her 
brother said, “You are not alarmed about Eob, I 
hope ? ” 

“Pliysically it is nothing worse than a severe 
headache and nausea,” she replied. 


A BIRD’S WISDOM AND A BOY’S WISDOM. 45 


“ Mentally and morally then ? ” 

“ I am afraid he has been smoking. I am quite 
sure that the scent of cigars was in his clothes.” 

Uncle Kobert laughed. 

“ I am sure you do not approve of boys’ smoking,” 
she said, almost reproachfully. 

“ The headache, I fancy, will be a better ally than 
our disapproval.” 

“ But boys are very persistent. They will suffer 
a good deal for the sake of a little gratification.” 

We will 'try to prevent it from becoming a com 
firmed habit. I think this will last him a week, at 
least. I wonder that he has not tried it before.” 

You treat it very lightly,” she said. 

“ But you may rest assured, Dora, that I do not 
approve of the practice in so young a boy, and will 
do my best to eradicate it. Do not feel distressed.” 

Will you speak to him about it ? ” 

"Yes.” 

The children came in and made themselves ready 
for dinner. Mrs. Alston stole in to see Eob a mo- 
ment, and found him easier, but very sleepy. 

"A nap will set me up right again,” he said 
hopefully. 


46 


KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


They all missed him, and Kathie hoped fervently 
that he was not going to be sick. “We had such 
a time with him a year ago, — did n’t we, mam- 
ma ? ” she said. “ But I think he was real sweet after- 
ward.” 

“ Sickness does improve people sometimes,” Uncle 
Eobert remarked, with a half-smile. “ However, Eob 
will be well by morning.” 

“ How can you tell ? ” she asked. 

“ 0, I have a famous faculty of guessing. 

Eob was much better at bedtime, kud accepted 
his uncle’s arm up stairs because he could not very 
well refuse. He was not sermonized, nor even sus- 
pected, he thought. 

He liad made one essay before during Uncle Eob- 
ert’ s absence, and felt just badly enough to be very 
cross. This time he had gone farther, though if he 
had been honest he would have confessed that the 
pleasure did not pay for the pain. 

“ But then all men do smoke,” lie said, consolingly, 
to liimseK, as he fell asleep. 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE- 


47 


CHAPTEE III. 

ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 

Eob was bright and clear-headed the next morn- 
ing, with a ravenous appetite for his breakfast. His 
mother asked no questions, but Kathie kept wonder- 
ing from the depths of her tender heart if it really- 
had been the running round after the bird. Eob 
colored and felt guilty, but tried to pass it over in 
an indifferent manner. 

“ But it is wonderful about Gypsy, — is n’t it ? ” 
he said. “Why, he might have flown away very 
easily.” 

“I don’t believe he would,” was Kathie’s tri- 
umphant rejoinder. 

“ I think I would be a little careful,” Uncle Eob- 
ert said. “ His sudden freak is something very 
unusual, but it is best not to place entire confidence 
in it too soon.” 

When the boys at school compared notes, for about 
half a dozen were learning to smoke, Eob preserved a 


48 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


discreet silence. He was rather graver than usual, 
and studied perseveringly, and as a natural conse- 
quence had perfect recitations. 

When he came home the horses were up to the 
light wagon, and Uncle Kohert stood talking to Mr. 
Morrison. 

0, where are you going ? ” was his eager ques- 
tion. 

“Over to Kennett’s Station to the nursery. We 
want some more trees, I find. Would you like to 
keep me company ? ” 

“ 0 yes, indeed. I ’ll just run in with my books.” 

Little did Eob suppose that this was a cunningly 
devised trap, but his uncle understood boys pretty 
well. 

Eob was in capital spirits. Everything had gone 
just right with him all day. Unknowingly, Eob was 
cultivating conscience quite rapidly. When lie did 
anything that he felt was really wrong he tried to 
make amends for it by extra goodness and attention, 
unless an obstinate fit overtook him, and these hap- 
pened less frequently than in past days. 

The afternoon was quite mild. Tlie ice had broken 
up in Guilford Eiver, but the edge of Silver Lake 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


49 


was still enchained by the remnant of the Tonce solid 
mass whereon the boys had enjoyed much fun. The 
cedars looked bluer than ever, and the pines were 
casting off their yellow needles. 

‘•We can soon go to the woods for wild-flowers,” 
said Eob. “ That ’s Kathie’s great delight.” 

“ And the woods will not be very far.” 

“ Uncle Eobert, we have begun geology. It in- 
terests me very much. When the frost gets out of 
the ground, Mr. Deane is going to take the class out 
some Saturday.” 

“And very entertaining you will find it. I am 
glad to have you look into nature a little. There is 
many a profound idea hidden under her brown crust, 
and it seems to me that the nearer a man gets to her 
and to God, the better he is.” 

“ But, Uncle Eobert, some people think the Bible 
and geology cannot agree.” 

“ I believe you will find, my dear boy, that there 
is nothing positively antagonistic. You know there 
was a time when the revolutions of the earth were 
considered the wildest falsity, and condemned as rank 
heresy. We often judge t^o soon. And above all 
things I hope you will not get into the flippant and 


4 


50 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


irreverent manner of criticising the Bible that some 
boys take for a sign of manliness, as they do swear- 
ing.” 

“ I hate swearing ! ” said Bob, with energy. 

“ I hope you will never fall into the habit. There 
always seems something coarse and brutal about it to 
me. I am thankful that it never was one of my 
faults.” 

“ But, uncle,” said Ptob, returning to the first sub- 
ject, “ does n’t it seem singular that Joshua should 
have commanded the sun and moon to stand still. 
That is just what the Bible says.” 

“ I feel like answering as the colored minister did : 
" My bredderen, where do you read dat He set ’em 
a goin’ again ? ’ ” 

Bob laughed at this. 

“We always say at the present day that the sun 
rises and sets. It might have been a common mode 
of speech in those times. I think there is enough 
that we can understand without plunging into those 
abstruse mysteries. It requires a great deal of judg- 
ment and wisdom to discuss them, and this is why I 
object to boys taking up such subjects. They are apt 
to fall into an irreverent state very painful to older 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


51 


persons. One can never be too thorough a gentle- 
man.” 

Rob’s eye had faljen upon Jasper, who seemed 
very mettlesome, and forgetting all about the tertiary 
and secondary period, he exclaimed, eagerly, “ 0 
Uncle Robert, let ’s have a race !” 

He placed the reins in the boys’ hands, and at 
a word the ponies started off. The most comical 
event was an old gray horse in the distance, whose 
ambitious blood was fired by the ring of the swift 
hoofs, and who went through with some astonishing 
evolutions ; but Jasper and Hero soon left him be- 
hind in a cloud of dust. 

“ Uncle Robert, do you think racing wTong ? ” he 
asked, presently, as the horses slackened their pace a 
trifle. 

“ It depends a good deal upon the occasion and 
the quality of it.” 

“I don’t mean betting and all that.” 

“ I think trotting and trials of speed extremel^f 
interesting and fascinating, and keeping a fast horse 
is a source of unfading amusement to a person fond 
of driving ; yet it does sometimes lead to an immense 
deal of harm.” 


52 


KATHIE’S SlLM^tER AT CEDARWOOD. 


But, Uncle Bobert, I slioiild n’t think real good, 
strong-minded men would be afraid.” 

“They are not the kind generally led into mis- 
chief. It is the boys and men who are not strong- 
minded, but believe they are. When one is all 
excitement and interest it is a very easy thing to bet, 
and drinks all round seem the mildest form. It has 
been proven time and again that a race-course cannot 
be kept clear of liquor, betting, gambling, and evil 
associates. A person slips into them imperceptibly.” 

“ But if one realizes that they would surely harm 
him?” 

“Very few are willing to admit that they can be 
harmed or tempted ; and sometimes a person does a 
thing that is absolutely disagreeable, and goes against 
all his finer tastes and feelings, simply to be like the 
company he is in.” 

“ But that is very foolish.” 

“You think such a temptation would not ensnare 
you?” and there was a quizzical smile in Uncle 
Eobert’s eye. 

“ No,” answered Eob, with much decision. 

“ If a perfectly useless liabit should be very dis- 
tasteful to you in the beginning you would not 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


53 


persevere, then, for the sake of imitating some 
friend or companion ? ” 

Why, I should be an idiot ! ” was the energetic 
reply. 

“ Then I suppose your yesterday’s experience will 
cure you of trying to smoke,” was the grave rejoinder. 

“ Uncle Eobert,” and the boy’s face was scarlet, 
how can you find out everything ? ” 

He was too much surprised to be vexed, and so 
remained perfectly good-natured. Uncle Eobert had 
taken him at just the right moment. “ I ’ve been 
there myself,” was the reply, with a droll smile. 

“ Did it make you sick ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ And what did you do ? ” 

^'Went on like the idiot you characterized a 
moment ago. If I had suffered as much for a 
month with a fever I should have considered myself 
quite ill.” 

‘‘ But why did you persevere ? ” 

“Eob, will you tell me honestly whether you 
resolved to give it up last night ? ” 

“No, I did n’t,” he answered, slowly, while a flush 
mounted to his brow. 


54 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Well, why did n’t you ? ” 

Uncle Eobert, almost everybody smokes or 
chews. And what great harm does it do ? ” 

“ Of what real service is it ? ” 

“ Why, men take it as a sort of rest, do they not ? 
I thought it looked very comfortable to see Mr. Mere- 
dith smoke. And Tom Allen at school said it was 
recommended for asthma, or some kind of trouble in 
his throat.” 

“ But that can’t be your excuse, neither are you so 
overburdened with care that it is necessary to drown 
it in clouds of smoke.” 

Bob was silent a moment. But it is n’t a bad 
habit like drinking, and it would never lead a person 
into much temptation,” he said. 

‘‘All habits are of relative importance either for 
good or evil. They form a well-balanced, symmetri- 
cal character, or tend to weaken aught that might 
become so. Now give me your reasons for learning 
to smoke.” 

“ I think it must be a real enjoyment, and — a 
good many of the boys smoke.” 

Eob’s tone was rather slow, as if he felt his cause 
was a Ettle lame. 


ON THE EIGHT SIDE. 


55 


Is that the best you can say for it ? ” 

“ Well/’ was the rather impatient rejoinder, I 
suppose ’most every person has some indulgence.” 

Eob’s face flushed and his temper was getting hot. 

Why did you do it ? ” he asked. 

Because I was foolish, as I told you in the begin- 
ning. I had no mother and was sent to boarding- 
school, and at home my father had a smoking-room, 
where he used to sit with his friends. He thought 
as much of having a cigar-holder on the table as 
Kathie does of a bouquet. No one ever said any- 
thing against it, and I thought it a great triumph to 
persevere. At twenty I was an inveterate smoker.” 

Did n’t you enjoy it ? ” 

“ I suppose I must have. A luxury that costs one, 
two, or three hundred dollars a year, ought to pay in 
some kind. But when I began my new life I gave it 
up, and it was a hard trial. I thought then how 
foolish I had been to suffer so much in learning and 
unlearning a bad habit.” 

" Did n’t you think it right ? ” Eob’s voice was 
low and serious. 

" No, my boy, that was just it. I said to myself, 
'Here is an indulgence that does me no good, and 


56 


KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


sometimes harm. It often gives me a dull, stupid 
feeling, it scents my clothes and my breath, and if I 
were going into ladies’ society I should use some 
perfume to disguise it, — for although many women 
politely refrain from objecting, very few really like it. 
I might do much good with the money that it costs, 
so I will just stop,’ — and I did. I enter upon no 
general crusade against smoking, but I do strongly and 
earnestly advise all boys not to make the attempt.” 

Eob did not look as if he was altogether con- 
vinced. “It cannot harm any one very much,” lie 
said, slowly. “ There are a good many healthy old 
men who are always smoking.” 

“Neither can it be any great advantage to have 
your brain and nerves and eyes forever steejoed in i 
cloud of smoke. I believe it does injure many a 
person. And now I am going to make you an 
offer.” 

Eob glanced up in expectation. 

“If you will not learn to smoke until you are 
twenty I will give you a handsome gun this sum- 
mer, and convince your mother that you can use it 
without making yourself food for powder.” 

“ 0 Uncle Eobert ! Tliat will be splendid ! Yes. 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


57 


I 'll do it ” ; and the boy’s face was most bright and 
eager. 

“ Eemember what you are promising. You must 
withstand all temptations, for I expect you to keep 
your word sacredly.” 

“Of course I shall,” declared Eob, energetically. 
“ And, to tell the truth, it made me awfully sick. I 
don’t believe it is very good for any one.” 

“ Not when it goes so against nature” ; and Uncle 
Eobert smiled. “ Here we are at the station.” 

They went in to see Mr. Whitneath, and selected 
the trees. Then they took a walk through the green- 
houses. Three long rows, filled with flowers to the 
roof, many of them blossoming profusely, and so 
fragrant that the air was almost stifling. 

“ How Kathie would enjoy it ! ” Eob exclaimed. 

“ I mean to bring her over some day. She is 
counting a gTeat deal on extensive garden opera- 
tions this summer.” 

“ I believe I ’ll try my hand at it too,” said Eob, 
won into enthusiasm. 

They had a pleasant drive home, and were most 
excellent friends. Eob was much elated at the idea 
of having a gun of hi$ own. 


58 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ And SO another temptation has been tided over,” 
Uncle Eobert thought, as he watched his nephew’s 
frank, manly face that evening. Four or five dan- 
gerous years yet to come. -Would he always be able 
to guide the boy through the many swift currents 
that were in waiting to drive him to the broad ocean 
of destruction? 0 boys! do you ever realize how 
many anxious hours you cost, and that what seems 
so slight a matter that you can see no harm in it 
is often a beguiling siren to lure one into wrong? 

Uncle Eobert had not spoken too soon. Eob had 
unconsciously fallen into the forbidden practice of 
treating. Twice he had allowed himself to accept 
of a cigar ; and a day or two after this conversation 
one of the boys hinted that it was his turn to shell 
out the tin,” as he elegantly expressed it. 

“ Well,” he said, “ come on down the street.” 

Four boys followed. At the cigar-store they met 
Lu Simonds. “Well, fellows !” a little surprised at 
seeing Eob. 

Eobert Alston walked up to the counter and 
bought five cigars of the tobacconist’s attractive 
daughter. They cost twenty -five cents, all the 
money he had ; not very expensive, to be sure, 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


59 


but the kind the boys were used to buying. He 
dealt them round. 

“ Where ’s yours ? ” asked Lu, with a spasm of 
delicacy. 

I ’ve given out on the subject. It made me sick 
as a dog yesterday, and I have no desire to try it 
over again ” ; and somehow Eob felt braver and more 
manly when he had uttered this. 

After all, it does cost a good, deal,” he thought, as 
he parted with the boys. “ There ’s treating in this 
like all other things, and men pay from ten to twenty 
cents for cigars. Yes, Uncle Eobert is right ; it ’s a 
foolish habit.” 

Gypsy in the mean while was the centre of an 
admiring throng. Miss Jessie was much astonished, 
and declared that Kathie must have some secret 
power of charming. The most wonderful part 
seemed to be that Gypsy could go out of doors, 
and hop around, or fly from shrub to shrub, and 
Kathie had only to say, '' Come, Gypsy, I ’m going 
in,” when he would follow most obediently. Every 
day he grew more extravagantly fond of the child. 
He would nestle down on her shoulder and go to 
sleep among her soft curls, sing at her bidding, and 


60 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


perform various little tricks ; but though he was 
tame and cunning to the others, he evinced no such 
peculiar love. She sent Mr. Meredith a glowing 
account of her achievements, and he declared that 
he must come immediately and see for himself, as he 
was afraid her partiality had led her to exaggerate. 

They were not at all surprised to see him a week 
or so later. Kathie felt strangely timid at first, re- 
membering the* unfortunate incident m which she 
had unwittingly been so conspicuous. But he had 
evidently forgotten all about it, and was his olden 
gay self, very glad to see Kathie and the boys. 

And it is a treat to behold Miss Conover going 
around in such an independent fashion,” he said. 
'' Why, you are actually getting roses here in April, 
which is no more like spring than midwinter.” 

“ 0 yes,” exclaimed Kathie, “ the grass begins to 
have a green tint, and we are going to the woods to 
look for wild-flowers.” 

“ You must certainly wear green spectacles.” 

“ No, I do not ” ; and Kathie laughed with the 
brightest eyes that Mr. Meredith had seen for a long 
while. 

“Then you see with the eye of faith the things 
for which you hope.” 


On the right side. 


61 


It seemed to Kathie that she had obtained many 
such glimpses, but she had never thought of it in 
that light before. 

“ But the flowers are real,” she said, after a pause. 

“ I beg to be included in your ramble. When will 
it be ? ” Mr. Meredith asked. 

“ 0, let us go this afternoon. Uncle Eobert.” 

“ Very well.” 

" I wish you would wait till I come home,” said 
Eob, eagerly. I have a taste for the beautiful 
also.” 

“ It is n’t as good as birch or sassafras,” said Fred, 
slowly, swallowing his last mouthful of toast. 

Eob laughed. “ You gave a brilliant sign of life 
there, Freddy. I thought I should have to fish you 
out of your mug of milk.” 

That started him on another tack. “Why can’t 
we go fishing ? ” he said. “ It ’s nicer than the woods 
anyhow ! ” 

“ Fred is the oddest chap I ever saw,” exclaimed 
Eob. “ If you talked of planting a balloon vine he 
would engage passage in the balloon.” 

They all laughed, and Freddy looked puzzled, as if 
he could not quite understand where the fun came in 


62 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOI>. 


TKen the walk to the woods will be for this 
afternoon,” said Mr. Meredith. “ Can you indulge in 
such tramps, Miss Conover ? ” 

I think I will, as the day is fine,” Aunt Euth 
answered, with a pleasant smile. 

“ So we shall have quite a party. I dare say 
Kathie will think of half a dozen others that she 
would like to ask,” Mr. Meredith returned. 

“ O, if it is to be a party I can very easily find 
ever so many. Miss Jessie said that she had not 
been to the woods yet this spring.” And then 
Kathie felt a sudden heat in her face and turned 
it away. 

“Well, we might drive over this morning and ask 
her,” returned Mr. Meredith, gravely. 

“ And if there would n’t be too many — ” 

“ 0, the inevitable Lucy and Annie Gardiner,’' 
laughed Eob, as he strapped his books together. 

“Well ?” questioned Kathie. 

“ 0, it ’s all right. And I ’ll bring Charlie along.” 

Before they set out for the drive Gypsy and the 
piano claimed some attention. And then Miss J essie 
was very glad to see them, and kept them to lunch 
by promising to return with them. 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


63 


“ I hear that your little bird follows you every- 
where,” said Grandmother Darrell to Kathie. 

“ Yes, he does ; and he is very sweet and cunning.” 

“ But how did you get him to do it at first ? ” 

“ It was just a fancy that he took. I was afraid 
that he would forget all about me while I was 
away.” 

“I don’t believe any one ^ould ever forget you, 
child ; and you are so loving yourself that you win 
all others. It ’s like the old fairy-story of the dia- 
monds and pearls that the little girl dropped. I 
dare say that you have read it.” 

“ 0 yes, it is in my book that came a year ago 
Christmas. I thought, when I first had it, that I was 
just as happy as I could be.” 

“ But you grow happier ? ” 

Kathie gave a bright, sweet smile. 

As children always should, and then they are as 
great pleasure to all around as to themselves.” 

It was very nice to be a pleasure to everybody, 
Kathie thought ; but instead of being elated by 
grandma’s commendation, she paused to wonder if 
she was not sometimes a trouble as well. 

By and by they went home, though Kathie was 


64 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


left at Mrs. Gardiner’s, according to request. Annie 
was home sick with a cold, but Lucy was very glad 
to take a nice ramble in such pleasant company. 

Back of Silver Lake there was a ridge of woody 
hills ; indeed, a mile or so below they were called 
the mountains.” Uncle Eobert ordered the large 
carriage and stowed them in. Kathie came down 
with a pretty wdiite Snug Harbor basket, that had 
been given to her the summer before. 

I don’t know but I ought to borrow a market 
basket,” Mr, Meredith said, gravely, glancing at 
Mrs. Alston. “ I might find some blackberries or 
peaches.” 

Who eve?! heard of peaches growing in a wood ? ” 
and Kathie gave a ringing laugh. 

Mr. Meredith ran his fingers through liis hair as if 
in great perplexity. 

“ But if you are so determined to have mid- 
summer at once, we may as well begin to think 
of peaches.” 

“ We will have spring first,” she said as they 
drove off, “ for Uncle Eobert fancied that the walk 
there would make the ramble altogether too long for 
Aunt Euth.” 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


65 


It was a very pleasant day with a balmy air, and 
as it had not rained recently the woods were in a 
good condition, the soft paths of fallen leaves quite 
dry. 

‘‘Hark!” exclaimed Mr. Meredith, “there is a 
wood-robin.” 

They listened to the peculiar song, ending with a 
low, sad call, and the echo of the warble grew fainter 
and fainter. 

“ How I should like to know all the birds ! ” said 
Kathie. “ I am afraid of getting names misplaced.” 

“ And I ’d like to have a gun,” declared Eob. 

“ 0, it is wicked to shoot the darling Ettle things.” 

“ No, it is n’t, — is it, Mr. Meredith ? ” 

“ An open question, Eob. I like genuine hunting, 
but to kill these poor little birds that at the best are 
only a bunch of bright feathers does n’t seem very 
manly sport.” 

“ 0, what quantities of pine cones ! ” said Lucy. 
“I mean to take some home.” 

“ I too,” announced Eob. “ I want to make some 
rustic baskets and stands.” 

“ Here is a flower ” ; and Kathie held up a pale 
pink arbutus. 


5 


KATHIK’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


C6 


“ And here is another ! ” Aunt Euth displayed a 
tiny bell-shaped blossom with two pale green leaves. 

“ I shall have to confess to the midsummer,” said 
Mr. Meredith, laughingly. 

They all set to work in earnest. Kathie found 
some beautiful mosses and lichens, and for all Mr. 
Meredith’s pretended ignorance, his eyes seemed to be 
quite sharp. Now and then he increased Kathie’s 
store by some rare and beautiful addition. 

Presently they were startled by a wild scream from 
Lucy, who was as white as a ghost, and, in starting to 
run, tripped and came down on her nose. 

“ A snake ! a snake ! ” she cried, in terror. 

Kathie caught sight of the great brown reptile 
winding his way down the hillside towards them. 

“ 0, there he is ! ” 

Mr. Meredith caught Aunt Euth in his arms, and 
lifted her aside. Valiant Eob seized a cudgel and 
dealt the monster a blow. His tail seemed to fly up 
in the air, and then all was still. 

“ He ’s finished ! ” 

Uncle Eobert stepped cautiously forward and 
looked. Eob took a hasty stride, and then both 
laughed. 


ON THE RIGHT SIDE. 


67 


“ Hurrah ! Here ’s his siiakeship ” ; and Koh held 
up a partially decayed brown sapling, bent almost like 
a how, and with a great knob on the root end that 
might easily be distorted into a head. 

Lucy was still pale and shivering, and Kathie 
looked frightened. 

“ Equal to some of the ghosts,” said Mr. Meredith ; 
“ but it might easily alarm any one as it came gliding 
down hill.” 

They had a little fun over it, and then returned 
home with an abundance of trophies. 


C8 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTEE IV. 
roe’s essay as a sailor. 

Kathie made quite a display with her flowers. 
She filled a vase and a pretty glass saucer, and in- 
sisted that the library was very fragrant from the 
delicate perfume of the arbutus. Eob told the snake 
story in so tragic a style that Freddy was a good 
deal disappointed “ because it was n’t a real snake, 
after all.” Mr. Meredith had to take Miss Jessie 
home, as Charlie could not join the party, though I 
am afraid he would have considered his escort neces- 
sary all the same. So the rest gathered in Aunt 
Euth’s room when the lamps were lighted. 

“ I ’m so glad summer is coming ! ” exclaimed Eob. 

Vacation begins on the twenty-second day of June, 
— ten weeks yet ; but the time will pass, and there 
v/ill be a good deal of fun in the excitement about 
examination. Some of the fellows are pegging away 
sharp, I tell you ! ” 

“ And what are you doing ? ” 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


69 


0, it is n’t my second year, and I can’t come in 
for a prize. I may possibly be distinguished. Uncle 
Kobert, will I go there next year, think ? ” 

“ I have n’t decided yet,” was the rather grave 
reply. 

“ I believe I ’d like to go to a regular boarding- 
school.” 

Why ? ” 

Eob’s first impulse was to say, “ Because they have 
such lots of fun,” but he thought it better to keep 
this fact in the background. “ I ’d like a change,” he 
answered, quite soberly. 

I hope I shall never have to go,” was Kathie’s 
grave comment ; there ’s no place in the world as 
lovely as Cedarwood.” 

“ O, you ’re a girl ! ” was Eob’s rather disdainful 
rejoinder. 

“ But would n’t you get homesick ? ” 

Homesick ! no, not I ; did you while you were 
in New York ? ” 

Kathie gave a faint smile and said, “ That was not 
quite like going to school.’' 

“ I ’m not afraid. Uncle Eobert, are we to have a 
boat pretty soon ? ” 


70 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ 1 have been thinking of it.” 

“ Will it be a sail-boat ? ” 

Mrs. Alston looked up also for the reply. 

It is best to try rowing first, I fancy.” 

"^Well, I want a real slim little beauty that will 
cut the water like a knife. Won’t it be gay ! But I 
think a sail-boat the nicest.” 

“ Why?” 

Because,” and Bob looked a trifle perplexed, not 
having any very clear idea on the subject, “it is not 
such hard work, and requires more brain to manage it.” 

“ And a flaw of wind may upset your management 
and your boat.” 

“ But I ’d learn all about it.” 

“ That takes time. Bowing is a very healthy 
exercise, and quite an accomplishment in my esti- 
mation.”# 

“ Girls sometimes row,” said Kathie. 

“0 yes, often ; I should like you to learn.” 

“I wonder if I could,” was her doubtful rejoinder. 

“ Why, of course,” Bob replied. 

“ It will be delightful to have a boat ! ” she said. 
“ Think of floating around the cool shores of Silver 
Lake; and then, Uncle Bobert, we can gather the 

O 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


71 


lilies that seemed to mock us last summer in their 
security.” 

They had spent all one afternoon endeavoring to 
get them, and Uncle Eohert had tried numerous 
inventions, but not a single lily did they capture. 

“ Eob,” said his uncle, after a little pause, “ we will 
go down to Connor’s Point some day and see what they 
have. If nothing suits us, we can order one built.” 

That would be the best, for then we can have it 
just as we like.” 

“ But we may have to wait some time.” 

I wish I could see them build it.” 

It would not be very entertaining, I fancy. It 
always seems to the one looking on that men work 
very slowly.” 

“ How long would it take ? ” 


0, two or three weeks for it to dry properly, 
be painted, and dry again.” 

Eob gave a long whistle. “ Anyhow there ’s one 
thing for summer ; and fishing and riding and — ” 
hunting, he wanted to say very much, but restrained 
himself. 

You ’ll never enjoy a vacation of play so much 
again, Eob,” said his uncle, with a quaint smile. 


72 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


‘^Why?” 

“ Because you grow older every year, and after this 
your desires and tastes will change rapidly ” 

I believe I shall be almost sorry”; and Bob 


sighed 

The little bronze clock struck nine, the children’s 
usual bedtime. Kathie had a last word and a 
caress all round, and was hardly through by the time 
Bob had tumbled into bed. 

‘‘ Brother,” said Mrs. Alston when they were alone, 
“ do you think it best for Bob to go away to school 
another year ? ” 

“ I believe I do,” he answered with a soft, grave 
inflection. 

But why ? ” and her yearning mother’s heart 
trembled at the prospect. 

“ Well, partly to try an experiment. A boy could 
be fitted for college at the academy, and Mr. Darrell 
proposes to make no change with Charlie, but Bob 
needs a sort of self-dependence that he will never 
acquire there.” 

“ I think he has too much already.” 

But not of the right kind. I believe with you 
that I would rather keep him here and watch the 



ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


73 


daily unfolding of his character, but I am almost 
certain that it would not be so well for him. He will 
have to learn many things by experience, and he will 
have less temptation at a boarding-school than at 
college. I want to feel comparatively certain of him 
before he goes very far into the world.” 

But it seems to me that boys can be strengtliened 
more by a wise and tender home influence.” 

“ Some boys, — Charlie Darrell, for instance, or 
perhaps Dick Grayson. But Bob seldom believes a 
thing thoroughly until he has tried it. After he has 
been worsted in two or three battles he may be more 
tractable. My dear Dora, do not conjure up terrible 
phantoms. I have no doubt but that Kob’s school 
life will be a success, and it may serve to endear liis 
home to him.” 

Mrs. Alston said no more. It did not seem right 
to gainsay her brother when he was so kind and con- 
siderate in every respect. 

“ Will this render you unhappy ? ” he asked in a 
low tone. 

“ I shall not allow it to liave that effect ” ; and she 
smiled rather sadly. 

“ If I did not think that there was a great deal at 


74 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


stake, I would not be so anxious to try the experi- 
ment, and you must be content in having one lovely 
child wlio will cause you no uneasiness. I think, 
too, that Freddy will mature into a docile, affection- 
ate boy.” 

“ Kathie is a comfort,” her mother said, tenderly ; 
"‘yet at one time she seemed very heedless.” 

“ But she has learned the grand art of trying, and 
now you must have faith for the others.” 

Mrs. Alston breathed a brief prayer that she might 
be able to trust the future for them without any mis- 
giving. 

The boat project was discussed before Mr. Mere- 
dith, and he proposed accompanying them ; so, a day 
or two after, Eob rushed home from school in great 
earnest, to be in time for the train. He ate a mouth- 
ful of lunch and gave his hair a hasty brush, then 
started off in high glee. 

Silver Eiver or The Creek, as the old-fashioned peo- 
ple called it, was a small winding stream at the south- 
ern end of the village. About four miles below, at 
Eushville, it emptied into Guilford Eiver. This being 
much larger and navigable, there was a good deal of 
business done along its banks. At Eushville there 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


75 


wei-e two large iron-founderies, a woollen-mill, and 
several smaller factories. The next place of any note 
was Connor’s Point, another thriving little village, 
and here the river made a very decided curve, the 
point of land jutting out, forming a small cove. 
Here a Mr. Brad don kept quite a ship-yard, built 
schooners, yachts, sail-boats, and all that kind of 
craft. Boats were let as well as sold ; indeed, boating 
was quite a business at the Point. A branch road 
stopped at these places, though it was quite a walk 
to Mr. Braddon’s, who, after the fashion of the Hol- 
landers, lived as far out in the water as he could get 
to have any ground at all. 

Rob was in his element. Indeed, he had talked 
pretty largely at school about his boat, exciting a 
great interest among the boys. And now that he 
was actually here, and on the eve of bargain- 
making, he felt like throwing up his cap and hurrah- 
ing to the extent of his lungs. Or he might have 
stood on his head, his enthusiasm reached such a 
pitch. 

Mr. Braddon took them out on the dock. Two or 
tliree trim, jaunty-looking yachts lay rocking in the 
current that flowed quite swiftly round the point. 


76 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


0,” exclaimed Kob, “ are n’t they beauties ! Now 
that ’s w^hat I ’d like ! ” 

“ But you would want a larger place than Silver 
Lake, or you would be apt to have the sensation of 
going a fishing in a wash-tub,” said Mr. Meredith. 

“ With a bent pin ! ” and Bob laughed. 

“ I suppose a row-boat will look rather small to 
your rapidly enlarging vision,” his uncle rejoined. 

But it will appear larger on the lake.” 

'' And if you can manage it yourself it will be much 
more pleasure than always to wait until another per- 
son is at liberty.” 

Bob had not thought of that before. His fancy 
veered round like a sail in a flaw of wind. 

“ After I learn to row, I can go out any time ? ” 
he said, with an eager glance. 

'' I mean that you shall understand it thoroughly, 
and the boat is to be your own.” 

“No partnership affair about that!” was the tri- 
umphant rejoinder. 

“ We are in search of a fine row-boat,” explained 
Mr. Conover, walking out to gain a view of the 
smaller craft. 

“There’s two that are just about right, — the 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


77 


Jessie and the Pride of Gordon. That I built for 
a young man last summer, but he only kept it a 
month, as he went into the navy.” 

“ How odd that this one should be named Jessie ! 
Why, it ’s almost in honor of Miss Jessie at home ! ” 
said Eoh. 

Is that your sweetheart, young man ? ” asked Mr. 
Braddon, with a shrewd wink. 

Eob colored to the roots of his hair in such a 
violent fashion that Mr. Meredith could not forbear 
smiling. 

No, indeed ! ” he disclaimed, with great haste and 
energy. 

“ Well, here ’s the Vixen, though I can’t say that 
her temper is especially had ; and the Sylph, a little 
beauty. Would you like to try any of them ? ” — to 
tlie gentlemen. 

Which one takes your fancy most, Eob ? ” asked 
his uncle. 

There were half a dozen more with various cogno- 
mens. Eob eyed them all critically. 

“ The Vixen looks as if she might be a swifter. 
She ’s slim, and I like the way she sits up out of the 
water.” 


78 


KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


But she ’s small, Eob. You could n’t take out 
much of a party in her.” 

“The Pride of Gordon is the best thing here in 
the shape of a row-boat,” said Mr. Braddon. 
“Next to her I’d take the Jessie, — that is, if you 
want it for parties. You can have the name 
changed, you know.” 

“ I believe we do not care about one quite as large 
as the Pride of Gordon. We ’ll try the Jessie first, 
and then the Vixen.” 

Mr. Braddon unlocked the chain, and hunted up 
the oars. They looked almost like feathers, and had 
the name painted in a curious bronze-color that 
turned golden as soon as it was wet. Her water-line 
was a fine stripe of green and gold, and above a band 
of carmine. A slender, gracefully pointed bow, and 
a tiny mast for a streamer, gave her a jaunty look. 

Mr. Meredith took his seat in the stern, and Mr. 
Conover grasped the oars. 

“ You can judge her best by standing on the pier, 
young man,” said Mr. Braddon, but Eob could not 
forego the pleasure of making one of the ship’s com- 
pany. He fairly envied his uncle the ease and dex- 
terity with which he managed the oars, and his 


KOB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


79 


fingers almost ached to get hold of them. If he 
only knew how to row ! 

They went along beautifully, skimming the water 
like a bird. Rob was quivering with delight. 

'‘Well?” his uncle exclaimed at length. 

“ 0, she ’s splendid ! As good as any of the 
others ; don’t you think so ? ” 

“ I like her very much,” said Mr. Meredith. “ She ’s 
well balanced and a good sailer. How about the 
rowing, Conover ? ” 

Uncle Robert laughed, and sent the boat ahead 
with a quick stroke of the oars. It seemed like 
child’s play, and Rob was quite sure that he could 
row. 

They turned about presently and went back to 
the pier. Mr. Braddon had the Vixen ready for 
them. 

Rob concluded that it was rather small for a 
party, and he meant to have such fun taking out 
the boys. 

“ I guess I like the Jessie best,” he said, presently. 

“ I think I do also. It would be easier for you to 
manage this, but you ’ll soon get into it.” 

" I ’d like to try,” the boy returned, wistfully. 


80 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


I propose to return home by water, so you may 
have an opportunity,” his uncle said. “ But what 
about the name ? though I suppose we could have 
that altered at home.” 

“ 0, 1 like it, and Kathie will be delighted. But 
won’t it surprise Miss Jessie ? ” 

Mr. Meredith fancied that it would. 

Mr. Braddon was quite anxious they should try 
some of the others, but Uncle Eobert was satisfied. 
The price seemed 'to be a fair one, and the business 
arrangements were soon concluded. 

The tide was coming in, though thus far up the 
river it was not very powerful, but the wind also 
was in their favor. Mr. Braddon offered to send 
the boat up the next day, but Eob was wild to go 
home in it, and Mr. Meredith proposed to take a 
turji. It would not be very hard work. 

I ’ve done a great deal of this business in my 
day,” said Uncle Eobert. “ One gets used to it on the 
other continent, especially in a region of islands.” 

“ I used to be considered a crack oarsman at Yale, 
but since I Ve grown so lazy the work has been 
rather hard. Eob, do you know anything about 
steering ? ” 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


81 


Now Eob’s knowledge of a sailor’s life had been 
gathered from stories where a long, low, rakish-look- 
ing craft distanced her pursuers, and his practical 
ability had been exercised upon a mud-scow, pro- 
pelled by a pole, but it looked so very simple that he 
felt quite confident. 

“ I have never steered, but I think I could. You 
just pull the end of the rope a little one side or the 
other, as you want her to go.” 

“You may take a seat here in the stern with 
me. 

“Not just yet, Meredith. Wait until we are 
round the point.” 

Presently Eob was inducted into the mysteries of 
the tiller, and took his seat with great importance. 

“We are in the channel, and you need scarcely 
stir it until we come to a curve. Just tight, — so. ' 

Eob was sure that he did it exactly right, and was 
feeling secretly elated when the boat appeared to lean 
a trifle to the left, and he thought he would right her 
up, but she went farther and farther. 

“To the right, Eob,” said Mr. Meredith, in a low 
tone. 

Eob gave a positive jerk. 


6 


82 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Take care/’ said his uncle ; “ the hank is shallow 
and you will run us aground.” 

Mr. Meredith gave the rope a pull. 

“ 0,” exclaimed Eoh, with a scarlet face, I had 
hold of the wrong end.” 

“Just steady.” 

Then the Jessie took a very decided tack to tlie 
left, and Uncle Eobert tried to steer with the oar. 
Eoh began to think it was not so easy, after all. 

“ At this rate you will double our journey,” .said 
his uncle, good-naturedly. 

Eoh was getting confused with his many efforts. 

“ You steer too much,” Mr. Meredith began, with a 
smile. “ The tiller does n’t want to be stirred.” 

“ But when Ave get crooked I must go straight 
again,” Eoh said, rather impatiently. 

Mr. Meredith “ straightened ” for a few seconds, 
and all went right. 

“ Now hold it just so.” 

Eoh sat as if he were in a vise, and looked straight 
ahead. On they went as if following a line. 

“ That ’s it. It is not much, you see, when you 
know how.” 

And then Uncle Eobert made the boat glide along 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


83 


as if she were on ice. The smooth, regular strokes 
were like music with their plash. The hoy watched 
with a longing eye, and fancied himself there in the 
rower’s place, keeping time like a soldier’s step. 

“ 0 Eob, the shore ! ” exclaimed his uncle ; and the 
next instant they were aground, sure enough. 

“ I kept her just straight,” said Eob, rather 
sharply, “ but there was a turn in the river ! ” 

“And when the mountain would n’t go to Ma- 
homet — ” laughed Mr. Meredith. 

Eob smiled too, and was good-natured in a mo- 
ment. “ To tell the truth, I was watching you so 
intently that I did not look at the bank,” he said to 
his uncle. 

“ Now we are going to turn, and then look out for 
breakers,” was his uncle’s gay reply. 

Eob acquitted himself with much skill, and they 
went on smoothly. He began to understand the 
philosophy of it. 

“ But suppose there was only one in the boat ? ” he 
asked. 

“ 0, you can steer very well with the oar, and if 
you choose you can unship the rudder.” 

“ Conover,” said Mr. Meredith, “ let me take a 
hand. Your arms must ache.” 


84 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ On the contrary, I feel quite at home. I have 
had so much of this work for the last dozen years 
that it is not much more exertion than driving.” 

Still it ’s a long pull, and I ’ll ease you a little. 
Wlien you see me looking faint and weary, you may 
hasten to my rescue.” 

So they changed places, and Mr. Meredith being 
fresh they hurried along with new vigor. The wind 
had fallen, but it was a very lovely evening, for the 
moon rose early, and her soft rays began to steal 
through the gray twilight. 

“Just the time for a song,” said Mr. Meredith. 

Eob thought he had never heard anything so beau- 
tiful as the blending of these mellow voices on the 
water; and as it grew duskier the trees took on a 
more shadowy appearance, until it seemed as if they 
must be clothed with foliage. 

“ Would n’t it be splendid to go off on a boating 
tour?” Eob exclaimed. “You might stop and en- 
camp somewhere at night.” 

“ It ’s rare fun sometimes,” Mr. Meredith answered, 
“if you do not have too much rain.” 

“Why can’t we take such a trip in the summer* 
Uncle Eobert ? ” 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


85 


Well, I suppose we might.” 

When you give out your invitations, count me in, 
Eob,” said Mr. Meredith. 

“ I surely will.” 

They came in the shade of the hills, and knew by 
that they were nearing home. It was beginning to 
grow quite cool, and Eob shivered. 

“ Suppose you come over here and take a hand at 
the oars,” Mr. Meredith exclaimed, presently, for he 
had remarked the wistful look in the boy’s face. 

“ 0, 1 shall be delighted ! ” and Eob scrambled over. 

They were entering Silver Lake. Mr. Conover 
steered them around, and Eob took the oar. 

“ Did you ever row any ? ” 

No, but I think I can soon learn.” 

Mr. Meredith explained the process very simply. 
He gave three or four slow strokes, so that Eob might 
see, for now it was nearly as light as day. 

" 0, 1 know,” said Eob. “ Why, it is very easy ! ” 

He dipped his oar and it went down as if there 
was a ton’s weight at the end, then he jerked it up 
with a splash that sent the water over him, and 
slipped the ojjr out of the row-lock. 

“ Oh ! ” he exclaimed, in surprise 


86 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Eather too powerful that time. Try again.” 

The next was a very moderate effort that accom^ 
plished nothing. When the oar was in the water he 
could not govern it at all, and if he raised it the 
least trifle, it seemed, it was on the surface. 

“ There ’s a knack in it,” he admitted, presently ; 
“ but it looks so easy.” 

“ So it is when you know how. Now try it again 
with me, — steady ! ” 

Alas for the steady ! Eob stirred up another great 
commotion in the water. Eather vexed at his want 
of skill, he made a quick, impatient stroke as a vent 
for the flash of temper. 

“ That is it.” 

Is it ? Well, I don’t know how it was done.” 

Try again.” 

Eob tried in every imaginable manner, but there 
was very little rowing in it. He could n’t seem to 
get “the hang of it.” “It is harder than I thought, 
and the strokes don’t come out at all as you fancy 
they will.” 

“ I believe I spent about a day in learning, so 
don’t be discouraged.” 

“ And you. Uncle Eobert ? ” 


ROB’S ESSAY AS A SAILOR. 


87 


“ I took to the water naturally. Our summers 
were passed on Long Island when I was a child, and 
my first experience dates so far hack that I cannot 
remember. You 11 see into it better by daylight.” 

Eoh made several more efforts that were not 
crowned with brilliant success, he was forced to 
admit, and he sadly relinquished the oar, for he found 
that he was doing more harm than good. Then Mr. 
Meredith gave a few long, quick strokes, and they 
were at home. 

We have a boat-house, anyhow,” exclaimed Eoh, 
as if some consolation were necessary. 

“But I have n’t the key. However, there ’s no 
danger of robbers ; we ’ll just fasten it to a stake.” 

That was soon done, and they walked up to the 
house. Eob felt a little cramped and stiff from 
sitting so long. 

“ 0,” exclaimed Kathie, running down the steps, 
“ we could n’t think what had become of you. I 
went over to the station to meet the train. Why, 
it ’s eight o’clock ! ” 

“ We rowed home ; at least I did n’t row any, but 
it was splendid ! ” 

“ You did n’t bring the boat ? ” 


88 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


'"To be sure, or rather it brought us. It ’s a 
beauty.” 

Come in,” said Mrs Alston ; “ I should think 
you would all be in a shiver, for it ’s chilly, and 
especially on the water. We began to wonder how 
you would get home.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


89 


CHAPTEE V. 

MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 

It was delightful in the warm, lighted room, and 
the three travellers drew a long breath of satisfaction. 

“ And so you really have a boat ? ” exclaimed 
Kathie, in a wondering tone. “ Is it pretty ? and 
what is it named ? ” 

“ Guess ! ” laughed Eob, holding up his hand to 
his uncle. 

“ I don’t know much about boats’ names.” 

But what would you like ? ” 

There was one called Vixen,” Mr. Meredith said, 
by way of assistance. 

“ 0, that ’s ugly, and sounds like ill-temper.” 

And the Sylph.” 

That does better. Is that it, Eob ? ” 

“ No, indeed; guess, as I told you.” 

Kathie began and enumerated the names of all the 
boys, girls, horses, cats, and birds that she could 
remember. 


90 


KATHIE’S SUxMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ You ’ve left out one important friend.” 

“ Not Miss Jessie ? ” 

Uncle Kobert took a roll from his pocket and shook 
it out. A pennon made of red bunting, with “ Jessie ” 
in white letters. 

0, is n’t that odd, or did you have it painted 
afterward ? ” 

“No, it was already* named,” said Mr. Meredith. 

“And what a surprise it will be to Miss Jessie ! 
Can’t you take us out in it. Uncle Kobert ? ” 

“ Yes, to-morrow. I expect that Rob will be the 
owner of the boat presently. If his school year ends 
satisfactorily, for I think he has tried in many things 
to please me, it will be his then.” 

Rob was quite elated. He had not felt altogether 
sure, though he had announced the fact at school. 

They made themselves ready and soon assembled 
at the table. Fred asked countless questions, and 
Rob gave an entertaining account of their voyage in a 
rather grandiloquent style, especially about his learn- 
ing to steer. 

“ Why did n’t you learn to row ? ” asked Kathie. 

Both Rob and JMr. Meredith laughed. 

“ It is n’t as easy as it looks,” he said. 


\- 



Miss Jessie’s Namesake, Page 89. 



w 









I 



t I 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


91 


It seems to me that I could do it. You just put 
your oar in the water, and do so — ” and Kathie 
made a motion with her hand. “ Miss Jessie can row.” 

I ’d like to see you try,” Eob returned, rather 
indignantly. 

“ I ’ll take a lesson to-morrow.” 

Eob lingered over the register for a while, warming 
himself and wondering whether he had better get out 
his books or not, and presently grew very sleepy. 
Mr. Meredith went to invite Miss Jessie over for the 
next day, though Kathie gave a queer little smile as 
he announced his errand. 

“ I think I ’ll go to bed,” was Eob’s next announce- 
ment, for he was beginning to nod in his chair. 

He did n’t have a single dream about the Jessie, 
thoimh he had to run down to the boat-house before 
breakfast to see if she was all safe and as pretty as he 
thought her last night. Indeed, he fell in love with 
her over again. She looked so clean and bright that 
he could hardly resist the temptation to jump in and 
flounder about awhile. A step startled him, and 
turning he beheld Kathie. 

‘‘0,” she exclaimed, in a delighted tone, “isn’t 
it pretty ! I hope Miss Jessie will come over real 
early, for I am impatient to take a row.” 


92 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Hang the school ! ” said Kob ; “ I wish it was 
vacation. You have all the luck and nice times, 
with nothing to do.” 

But I have a two hours’ music practice every day, 
' and I sometimes get very tired of it, much as I like it.” 

“ Ho ! What ’s that to a dozen lessons ! School ’s 
a humbug, that ’s my private opinion. But, Kathie, I 
should n’t wonder if we went off on a pleasure excursion 
some time and were gone a whole week. Would n’t 
it be jolly ? Catching fish and cooking them, and 
broiling birds over coals, and all that ! ” 

" Would we all go ? ” 

“ Of course not you girls. How could you camp 
out ? ” And Eob felt immensely gratified in thinking 
there was one point in which Kathie’s pleasures could 
not exceed his. 

“ But ladies do sometimes. Mrs. Havens went to 
the Delaware Water Gap with a party, and they 
walked ever so much, and had their dinners in the 
wood, and stayed all night at farm-houses.” 

Humph ! ” was Eob’s rather disdainful rejoinder. 

Katliie began to inspect the Jessie more closely. 
The inside was painted white and pearl-color, and 
glistened in the morning sun. 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


93 


I ’m so glad you have it/’ she said, in her cheery 
tone. “ I hope you will take ever so much comfort 
in it. It ’s next best to having a horse.” 

I don’t know but it ’s better.” 

They' took another survey of the boat-house, and 
then walked slowly up the lawn again. When they 
entered the breakfast-room the family were seated at 
the table. 

“Well, runaway,” said Mr. Meredith to Kathie, 
“ we did not know but that you had embarked for 
China. Has the boat been stolen. Master Eobin ? ” 

That made Freddy ‘laugh. “ Why, he can’t hop 
about or fly up in the trees,” he said. 

“ I think I ’ve seen him do a pretty good share of 
hopping and standing on one foot, and as for flying, 
I ’ve seen him in the top of many a tree.” 

“ But he had n’t any wings.” 

“ Boys manage to fly without them.” 

Freddy stopped to solve this knotty problem. 

“ The boat is beautiful,” exclaimed Kathie. “ Did 
you tell Miss J essie, Mr. Meredith ? ” 

“ Yes, I announced to her that we had a remark- 
able curiosity over here that was neither beast, bird, 
nor reptile. Admittance six cents, and here ’s the 


94 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


money ” ; with which he very gravely laid it beside 
Kathie’s plate. 

“ You did n’t tell her all that, and she did not give 
you the money ? ” 

" I told her that it brought us up from Connor’s 
Point, although it had n’t a foot to walk on, and 
she thought it must be either an elephant or an 
ostrich.’* 

Kathie laughed heartily. 

« Why can’t we have an elephant ? ” asked Fi-ed. 
"‘He will watch little children all day. I read it 
in my book, and he spirted a great lot of water 
over a tailor.” 

“Do you think we ought to have one to watch 
you ? ” his mother questioned, with a smile. 

“ He would be handy for a shower-bath too,” sug- 
gested Mr. Meredith. 

It was quite early, and Eob wanted to coax his 
uncle to go out on the lake for half an hour. It 
would be such a long while to wait until three 
this afternoon, and likely as not he and Mr. Meredith 
would go off somewhere. But there were three 
lessons ! He stood by the window very undecided, 
for conscience said “Lessons first.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


95 


It was a great trial, but he made the effort. 
Marching off up stairs, and sitting down by the 
tower window tliat overlooked the lake, he gave 
each one fifteen minutes’ serious attention. 

“ That ’s better,” he said, with a little triumph ; 
“ but 0, what fun they will have, and I shall not 
be here ! ” 

Poor Eob ! It almost seemed as if the boat would 
not last until afternoon, but still he trudged off to 
school with a cheerful good morning. Every day 
counted, that was his greatest comfort. 

Miss Jessie was not to come over until after 
luncheon. Kathie took her hour’s practice, and 
then went out to consider the state of the garden. 
It actually seemed warm enough to begin work, she 
thought. Mr. Morrison was walking around with 
his large pruning-shears. 

“ It ’s coming summer,” exclaimed Kathie, hope- 
fully; “don’t you think we could have the straw 
taken off our roses, Mr. Morrison, and this litter 
carried away ? I do so long to see the beds look 
neat and fresh once more.” 

“ One swallow does n’t make a summer,” he re- 
plied, gravely. 


96 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 


“ But there have been blue-birds and martins 
and robins,” she said, in a little triumph. 

“ But I dare say we shall have snow again. The 
roses are tender and would feel rather chilly without 
their cloak.” 

“ But there are ever so many flowers in the woods.” 

“ Every one according to his kind and time. There 
may be some here. Look around the borders.” 

Kathie ran for her small flower-rake and began 
stirring amongst the straw. “ 0, here ’s something 
coming up,” she exclaimed, delightedly. 

Mr. Morrison looked. “ That ’s hyacinth, and tins 
border is jonquil ; and 0, look at the tulips ! ” 

How can you tell them ? ” 

“They grow in a different manner, you see; and 
the tulips have a faint, bluish tinge. Look here, 
Miss Kathie.” 

She hurried round. There was a row of little 
vases, that seemed to be standing on the ground. 
White, waxen, shaded by two slender green leaves, 
that were just the height of the flower; and here 
purple, yellow, and a faint peachy color. 

“ 0, crocuses ! ” she said, after a moment’s thought. 
“ How lovely they are, the little darlings ! T must 
go find Aunt Buth.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


97 


Aunt Euth soon came out, and was as delighted as 
Kathie. Here were hardy pansies peeping up, so 
dark a green that they seemed almost black. 

“I think we might have them uncovered,” Ka- 
thie said, “ it would make the place look so much 
prettier.” 

“ In a week’s time, or less, we shall have snow.” 

“ How can you tell ? ” 

“Well, old-fashioned people call such days as 
yesterday and to-day weather-breeders.” 

“ What does that mean ? ” asked Kathie, curiously. 

“ I suppose it means that such pleasant days and 
soft, summery airs are unseasonable, and tliat we 
generally have a cold snap afterward.” 

“ But it may not snow.” 

“I think it will.” 

“ It ’s a shame to spoil the bright days by such 
dismal forebodings. Don’t you think so. Aunt 
Euth? ” 

“ 0, I don’t spoil them. Miss Kathie,” said Mr. 
Morrison, earnestly ; “ I give thanks for every one, 
and I ’m as fond of the sunshine as the blue-birds ; 
but you remember the story of the two who mated 
so early in the season, and how their young ones 
7 


98 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


perished, amid the March blasts, and the old ones, I 
believe, laid the blame on each other for being so 
hasty. So we will not uncover the tender flowers too 
soon. It ’s always safest to do your early gardening 
under a glass.” 

“ In a hot-bed ? ” 

“ Yes, or cold-frame for hardier things. Do you 
want to come and take a look at mine ? ” 

“ 0 yes.” 

Kathie and Aunt Euth walked to the vegetable 
garden. Several of the beds were covered with 
frames. 

0,” exclaimed Kathie, “ here are some peas com- 
ing up ! Two long, straight rows, — look. Aunt 
Euth!” 

“Yes, I Ve had these uncovered through the 
middle of the day ; and here ’s my asparagus. This 
is a bed of early spinach that was planted last 
August.” 

“ But what is this high one ? ” asked Kathie. 

“This is my hot-bed. We ’U soon have lettuce 
and radishes. Most of the others are for planting 
out as the weather grows warm.” 

“ And here are strawberries in blossom ! ” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


99 


Yes, some have set already. I think we will 
have a dish of strawberries early in May. I just did 
this for an experiment. And now, Miss Kathie, if 
you would like to have a little corner, you might 
plant some flower-seeds.” 

“ I believe I have n’t anything hut mignonette and 
sweet-peas and portulaca.” 

“We must look over the catalogue and send for 
some seeds,” said Aunt Euth ; “ I expect to do a 
little gardening myself next summer.” 

Kathie ran for her seeds while Mr. Morrison 
arranged a corner for her. 

“When will they come up?” she asked. 

“ In about ten days, except the portulaca, which 
always takes its own time.” 

“ I don’t know what this is,” she exclaimed, 
handing a tiny paper to Mr. Morrison ; “ it was n’t 
labelled.” 

“ 0, that ’s pansy ! Now we will try a florist’s 
experiment, and perhaps raise enough for a whole bed.” 

He took an old basket and went to the cow-yard 
for some compost, and stirred it ail up in the earth. 

“ Perhaps we had better plant them in little pots • 
I believe I have some around ” 


ioo 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


He found twenty and filled them. " How put two 
seeds in each one/’ he said to Kathie. 

Why just two ? ” 

“ Because one may not come up. If both are 
lucky enough to he perfect and hardy, we can 
transplant, you know.” 

“Tliey are such tiny little things. I wonder if 
there are forty of them ? ” 

There were only thirty-seven. 

“ How, we vnll see what comes of that. You 
have done considerable gardening this morning. 
Miss Kathie.” 

The little girl laughed gayly, weU pleased. Then 
they returned to the house, and as it was hut a little 
after eleven she went back to her piano, and was 
through by lunch-time. Mrs. Alston had been out 
during the morning. 

“ Kathie,” she began, “ I am going to ask your 
assistance. ^Irs. Gardiner mentioned a very poor 
woman, who moved into the old house of Mr. 
Ketcham and I went to see her. Her husband 
had been out of work for a long while, but has gone 
into ^Ir. Gordon’s hat-factory. There are five little 
children, and they have not a decent change of 
clothing.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


101 


That ’s poorer than we ever were, mamma.” 

“Your papa left some money when he died, or 
we might have suffered. This poor creature seems a 
worthy woman, and her rooms looked quite tidy. I 
stopped at the store and bought some muslin, and 
I think we can find a few old garments to alter 
over. You may get the machine ready, and I ’ll 
cut awhile.” 

“ It ’s such a good thing to have this little iron 
woman,” Kathie said, gayly, as she unlocked the 
case and began putting it in order. 

Mrs. Alston cut out two suits of underclothing 
apiece. The eldest child was eleven and the young- 
est a babe of two months. 

It was not deemed prudent for Aunt Euth to 
try the machine just yet, and Kathie looked upon 
it as a kind of play ; so she seated herself and soon 
had it whizzin" and whirrin". Aunt Euth and her 

o O 

mother cut and arranged, and Kathie sewed away 
until Miss Jessie came. 

It seemed to her that Miss Jessie grew prettier 
every day. Her cheeks were such a soft lovely pink 

t 

and her eyes so tender and bright. 

^Irs. Alston repeated the story of the poor woman 


102 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


she had found, and Miss Jessie was very much in- 
terested. 

“ I 11 run over and see her to-morrow,” she said. 

And now, my dear Kathie, you may be dismissed. 
I am ever so much obliged to you ” ; and Mrs. Alston 
kissed the soft scarlet lips. 

Kathie ran to find Uncle Eobert and Mr. Meredith, 
but they were not far. Then they all had to go and 
see the crocuses. 

‘'Why, I must look at mine,” exclaimed Miss 
Jessie. “ I have not once thought of them. Was 
this the remarkable sight ? It is very beautiful ” ; 
and she glanced at Mr. Meredith curiously. 

He laughed a little. 

“ Ko,” began Kathie, eagerly, “ this is not it.” 

“ He made me guess everything under the sun 
last night,” she said, with a mirthful yet perplexed 
expression. 

“O, there were two or three things that you did 
not mention.” 

“I did think of an elephant, though.” 

“ And now Freddy is most desirous of adding one 
to his stock of pets. He sounded me privately this 
morning upon the probable cost.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


103 


They all laughed. 

“ Suppose we take a shawl or two. Kathie, can 
you find some?” 

Kathie ran into the house and soon emerged with 
Aunt Ruth and two comfortable plaids. 

“ I ’ll marshal the company,” said Uncle Robert, 
taking his niece by the hand. 

Down the winding lawn path and through the 
shrubbery to the water’s edge. The red streamer had 
been fastened to the staff and was fiying gayly. 

0, a boat ! Why, I might have thought of that 
the first thing. And of course you rowed up from 
Connor’s Point ? ” 

Mr. Meredith gave a gay, ringing laugh. He had 
mystified Miss Jessie very much. 

“ Now we will take a row around Silver Lake.” 

“ Did you have it named purposely for me ? ” she 
asked. 

That was quite an accident, though I am not sure 
but that the name decided us,” Uncle Robert an- 
swered. 

“ They made me guess that,” said Kathie, and 
the oddest of all was that I left yours till the very 
last.’' 


104 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


must have some cushions to fit/’ Uncle 
Robert declared. “ I ’ll send over to Weston’s to- 
morrow. These are from the carriage and may not 
be altogether comfortable, but it is the best that I 
can do at present.” 

He seated the ladies in the stern, placing Miss 
Jessie at the tiUer. They assured him that they 
were very comfortable. Tlien Mr. Meredith faced 
them on the next seat. 

“ That will hardly do, after all. Suppose you come 
over to me, Kathie, and take a lesson in the art of 
rowing ? ” 

She was delighted with that. 

“ Now we are properly balanced, I believe. Where 
will you go, — to the Indian Ocean or the Mediter- 
ranean Sea ? ” 

“ Or Arahy the Blest,” said Miss Jessie, laughing. 
'‘And there is the Fountain of Youth still to be dis- 
covered.” 

“ Is it ? ” and an odd, half-sad, half-questioning 
look crossed Uncle Robert’s face. “I think some 
have found it, in heart and soul at least.” 

“Yes,” she answered, seriously, “we can all do 
that.” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


105 


It seemed to Aunt Kutli as if she had made the 
discovery, or, better still, gone back to a fairer and 
happier youth, — days of deeper and fuller satisfac- 
tion, though not so gay, perhaps. The 

“ . . . . something sweet 
That follows youth with flying feet ” 

passes for all time in those early days ; but is there 
nothing precious left ? 

“ How very lovely ! ” Miss J essie exclaimed, in her 
soft voice. I shall be tempted to pay you many a 
visit this summer. Kathie, we can go out by our- 
selves. But who is to be the proprietor of the 
boat ? ” 

“Eobert,” answered his uncle. ^^At vacation he 
comes into full possession.” 

We shall have to be very sweet and amiable to 
Captain Alston then.” 

“ Who taught you to row, Miss J essie ? ” asked 
Kathie. 

" 0, some cousins who live up the Hudson. I was 
at school there two years ago.” 

“ Will you try ? ” said Uncle Eobert. ‘‘ You will 
have to take both hands, and you should have 
gloves.” 


106 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


He showed her how to hold the oar and just how 
deep to dip it. She succeeded very well indeed. 

“ Hillo ! Ahoy there ! ” sang out a voice in the 
distance. It was Kob, who had naade a speaking- 
trumpet of his hands. 

Uncle Kobert rowed quickly in to the shore, and 
the boy sprang on board. Kathie took the seat 
beside Mr. Meredith. 

“ Now, Kob, for a second lesson,” said that gentle- 
man. 

“ I ’ve been thinking it over all day. It ’s just 
like a tune floating through my brain. I believe I 
can do it.” 

“ And the lessons ? ” asked his uncle, in a low tone. 

“First-rate, every one. O, I went up stairs this 
morning and put them through sharp.” 

“ I missed you, and thought you were down to the 
boat-house. I am glad that you had .that much self- 
control, my boy.” 

Kob answered the loving smile by one as bright. 
Then he took the oar. The first stroke was a success, 
and he followed it by half a dozen equally good. 

“ Capital, Master Kob ! ” exclaimed ^Ir. Meredith. 
“ There ’s the right ring to that music ! ” 


MISS JESSIE’S NAMESAKE. 


107 


Eob was much elated. To be sure, now and then 
he made a false stroke and splashed the water, but on 
the whole it was very ‘fair rowing. They went all 
around Silver Lake. In some places the willows 
began to take on a tint of silvery green, the first 
suggestion of budding out. Some of the sedge - 
grasses and water-plants were thrusting up buds and 
slender spires. 

They had a gay time talking and laughing, and at 
length reached the tiny dock, where the ladies were 
handed out in great state by Mr. Meredith. Eob was 
to stay and try both oars. 

He found this much more difficult, and very slow 
work, and presently his arms began to ache. 

That is enough for one day, Eob,” said his uncle. 
“ You ’ll soon be master of the situation.” 

Eob gave a confident and delighted nod. 


108 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDEKWOOD. 


CHAPTER VI. 

HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 

The Jessie bade fair to overshadow aU other in- 
terests. The academy boys must come and see it, 
and the children from the district school took in 
Silver Lake as a short cut homeward. Rob was very 
proud indeed. There was nothing like it this side 
of Guilford River, he was sure. 

Mr. Meredith coaxed Kathie to hire him as gar- 
dener, so that he might have an excuse to stay. 
They made hourly excursions to the crocus border 
and the hot-bed, and Kathie watched the little pots 
as nothing ever was watched before. One day they 
went to the woods and gathered a quantity of wild- 
flowers, and then Kathie could not resist cutting 
some of the beautiful crocuses. 

There had been a week of very pleasant weather, 
and Kathie treated Mr. Morrison’s snow-storm as a 
rather wild prediction. But at noon it clouded over, 
and the wind blew up raw and cold, so Kathie 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


109 


thought it prudent to cover the borders, especially 
as slie found Mr. Morrison putting some old matting 
over the hot-bed. 

The evening within was so bright and genial that 
she forgot all about it, and great was her surprise the 
next morning to find everything covered with snow. 
The trees were lovely. The evergreens to the 
smallest branch were draped with ermine, and the 
house gables were hooded with an overhanging edge 
of purest white. Every shrub or point of any kind 
had its tuft of snowy fleece. 

Fred was in ecstasies, and thought that it would 
do for sleighing. At all events, there would be some 
fine old snowballing ! 

And fine wet feet ! ” said his mother. 

I can't see what made you think that it would 
snow ! ” Kathie remarked to Mr. Morrison. 

There is generally one snow-storm in April, if no 
more, so that may be considered a tolerably safe 
prediction. But I believe we can count upon spring 
now.” 

Aunt Euth and Kathie studied a catalogue of 
plants and annuals, and made some selections. 
Uncle Eobert had put out a great many hardy 


110 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


bulbs and roses the preceding fall, so that they had 
nothing to do but to spring up and grow. 

“ But you ought to have a nice collection of 
monthly roses as well/’ Mr. Meredith said. “ Even 
the so-called perpetual roses rarely blossom more 
than twice during the summer.” 

“We have a daily rose.” 

“Very pretty, but of course the blossoms do not 
keep. I wish there was a greenhouse near.” 

Kathie was very sorry to have him go, but he 
said that he waited until the last moment to see if 
she would not make liim some kind of a generous 
offer. 

“I can’t do anything better than to ask you to 
come often and stay a long while,” she said, laugh- 

A few days after his departure she received a little 
note, asking her to take Mr. Morrison and the wagon 
and go over to the station. Full of curiosity they 
started at once. 

Upon inquiring at the express-office she found 
that two boxes were awaiting her, and a parcel. The 
former were fastened with slats at the top, and at the 
lirst glance Kathie gave a cry of joy. 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


Ill 


“ The loveliest flowers you ever saw ! ” she said to 
Mr. Morrison. “ I can hardly wait until I get home 
for a nearer view of them.” 

He lifted them both into the wagon, and Kathie 
took the parcel in her lap. That was a secondary 
consideration. 

“ We can go to gardening in good earnest now,” 
Mr. Morrison said. “Have you looked at your 
pansies ? ” 

“ Hot to-day nor yesterday. Hannah laughed at 
me, and told me that ^ a watched pot never boils,’ so 
I thought I would wait a few days.” 

“ I counted twenty-four up this morning ; and the 
mignonette has started.” 

“ That is royal ! ” she said, delightedly ; “ I wonder 
if they will be all of one color ? ” 

“ I guess not.” 

“ I shall have such a splendid garden ! It was so 
kind in Mr. Meredith to send all these.” 

Uncle Eobert was at hand, and they were opened 
by the kitchen porch. They were very nicely packed 
to keep them from being crushed, and when the 
top slats were taken off they presented one mass of 
elegant bloom. Kathie drew a long breath, inhaling 
the fragrance. 


112 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


One by one they were handed out. AVhite, red, 
pink, pale salmon, and pale lemon-color, the tops of 
the pots covered with moss to keep them from 
drying out. Kathie could only look and exclaim. 
‘'And here is the loveliest purple heliotrope in the 
world, I do believe ; and 0, look. Uncle Robert ! — a 
perfectly white one ! ” 

"They are very elegant indeed, and fine, thrifty 
plants. It will not do to put them out of doors just 
yet.” 

" Then let us take them to Aunt Ruth’s room.” 

"We will see what is in the other before we 
begin.” 

Two or three choice roses and several beautiful 
monthly carnations, an artillery plant, and some 
very odd things that Kathie had never seen before. 

" Look at this beautiful red leaf, — it is as soft 
as velvet ! And 0, this magnificent purple and 
green — what is it?” 

" Gloxiana,” the label said, and the other was a 
" Coleus.” 

"A grand variety, surely. We shall have to 
invite Mr. Meredith down to spend a month.” 

" And feast him on roses,” Kathie said, laughingly. 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


113 


Uncle Eobert found a large table and bad it 
taken up stairs. Afterward they had a procession of 
flowers. Aunt Euth was nearly as extravagant as 
Kathie in her protestations of joy. 

0, here ’s my bundle ! ” exclaimed Kathie, that 
evening ; why, I had almost forgotten it ! ” 

The under wrapper was addressed to Miss Jessie 
Darrell. 

“ It is too bad that I did not look before and send 
it over to her,” she said, regretfully ; “ I ’ll do it the 
first thing in the morning.” 

So Kathie had a shorter talk than usual with 
Gypsy, who seemed to ask why he could n’t go 
out of doors with his mistress on this sunshiny 
morning, and find some stray worm or insect. I 
am not sure but she kissed the flowers all round, 
and then she set off for a walk. 

She found Miss Jessie in a broad-brimmed sun- 
hat and thick gloves, pruning and tying up roses and 
vines. She told her about her bundle and her gift 
of flowers. 

0, it was of no immediate importance, and I 
shall have to tell you, for you must help me a little. 
Come in the house and we will open it.” 


8 


114 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


*‘Why, what is all this blue for? And — a pair 
of trousers — sailor’s ! ” 

Yes, for Eob, and the flannel is for a shirt ; so 
that he will have a pretty costume. I spoke of it 
one day, and Mr. Meredith took up the idea imme- 
diately. It is to be his gift. I had a little note from 
him yesterday, and he said he could not find a shirt 
as pretty as he wanted, so he bought the material. 
Here is a collar pattern and the braid ; and 0, look 
at these anchors in white cord ! ” 

“How very generous he is!” Kathie said, slowly. 
“Miss Jessie — ” 

“Well?” 

“ I think I ought to send you some of my flowers.” 
“Why?” 

Kathie glanced up timidly, with a bright color 
in her face. As Miss Jessie met the soft eyes, 
she blushed too, and for a moment seemed quite 
awkward. Then she gave a little confused laugh. 
“ 0, never mind,” she said ; “ I have some very 
pretty ones, you know. And now, if I come over to 
your house, will your mother cut this out, so that we 
may be certain of having it fit nicely ? ” 

“ She will be very glad to do it, I am sure.” 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


115 


Come into the greenhouse and see my plants ; 
and how is Gypsy this morning ? ” 

“ As cunning and lovely as ever. Miss Jessie, I 
almost believe that I am in fairy-land.” 

“ Why ? ” with a smile. 

"Because such delightful things keep happening 
to me continually.” 

"And you are such a dear little girl that it is 
a pleasure to bestow gifts upon you. Now you 
must go and see grandmother a moment.” 

Altogether, Kathie made quite a long stay ; but 
she insisted upon taking the parcel back again, 
though she promised to keep the secret faithfully. 

" Twenty -nine pansies. Miss Kathie,” said Mr. 
Morrison, stopping her in tlie drive ; " I call that 
pretty good seed.” 

So she must run to the hot-bed and look at them 
A tiny stalk half an inch high, with two round 
dark-green leaves, not much larger than a pin’s head 
The idea of their ever growing into anything ! 

" They are so very little,” she said. 

" There ’s plenty of room for them to grow larger 
You ’ll have a nice bed.” 

The mignonette had thrust up a spire of pale, 
delicate green, and seemed to give more promise. 


116 


IvATHlE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 


“I suppose everything has to be small in the 
beginning,” she said, with a smile. 

The tulip-bed was coming on finely, but the 
crocuses were looking a trifle faded. Their glory 
would soon be over. 

She ran into the house and told her mother about 
the gift Eob was to have. Then she looked her 
flowers carefully over, and, as there were some very 
nearly alike, she decided that she would share them 
with Miss Jessie, for somehow it almost seemed as 
if Mr. Meredith must have meant part for her. 

They were busy enough at Cedarwood after this. 
Kathie was out of doors every spare moment. Fred- 
dy was seized with a garden mania too, and Mr. 
Morrison gave him a plot of ground to plant as he 
liked. 

What do you think you will raise ? ” asked his 
uncle. 

Fred buried his fingers in his hair meditatively, 
and looked at the nearest pine. “ Strawbenies, for 
one thing,” he said, slowly, ‘"and peaches, I guess.” 

Eob laughed. He could think of nothing but the 
boat, and every afternoon he brought one or more 
boys home with him to take a row. Jasper was 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA 


117 


quite thrown in the shade, and missed his young 
master a good deal. He was always very glad to see 
Kathie, and whinnied gratefully when he heard her 
voice. 

And so they came into May. The season was 
early in spite of the April snow, and the spiraeas were 
showing white blossoms. The fruit-trees, too, were 
budded, and the evergreens gave out the peculiar 
fragrance of the new growth. It seemed to Kathie 
that the world had never been half so lovely as now, 
and she kept continually finding something new. 

Where is Freddy ? ” Mrs. Alston said late one 
afternoon. Kathie, run over to the barn and see if 
you can find him. It will soon be supper-time.” 

As the days had grown longer they had changed 
their dinner-hour back to noon, an arrangement that 
pleased Hannah much better. 

Kathie took quite an extended ramble, but no 
Freddy could she find, so she asked Mr. Morrison. 

“ I saw him as he came from school, and he has 
not been around here since. It seems to me that he 
went toward the boat-house.” 

Kathie was down there in a minute. The boat 


was out. 


118 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 


Perhaps Eob took him,” she said to mamma. 

Eob flew in the house presently, whistling Pat 
Malloy, washed his face and hands and brushed his 
hair. 

“Where is Freddy?” asked his mother. 

“ I don’t know ; I have n’t seen him.” 

“I shall make him go without his supper,” ex- 
claimed Mrs. Alston. “He is getting out of his 
regular habits.” 

They sat down and ate leisurely. By this time it 
was growing dusk. Eob happened to say something 
about Dick Grayson and what they had been doing 
that afternoon. 

“Were n’t you out in the boat?” asked Kathie, 
quickly. 

“Ho, — or only a little while this morning.” 

“ Oh ! ” said Mrs. Alston, with a quick cry, “ the 
boat ’s gone. And Freddy — ” 

“ It can’t be, mamma. He could not get it loose.” 

“ Did you fasten it securely this morning ? ” asked 
his uncle. 

“ Yes, I ’m sure ” ; and then he thought a moment. 
He had been in a great hurry, for it was quite late, 
and now had he really fastened it, or carelessly 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


119 


thrown the chain over the stake ? For his life he 
could not remember. 

“ I 11 go down and see/’ said Uncle Eobert. 

Kathie’s heart beat with a quick fear. 

Eob put on his hat to accompany his uncle. He 
slipped his hand softly within the larger one. 

“I don’t feel quite positive,” he began as they 
were walking down the lawn-path. “I was in a 
hurry, for I did n’t want to be late at school.” 

“ You know I told you to fasten it securely always.” 

That was all Uncle Eobert said, for he knew his 
nephew’s pain would be bitterly keen if any accident 
happened. 

There was no boat, sure enough. The chain, too, 
was gone. 

“You do not think any of the boys would have 
taken it without permission ? ” 

“No, I don’t believe they would.” 

“ I am afraid then.” 

“ Freddy is always in some mischief,” said Eob, in 
a complaining tone. 

“ I am not sure that he has been forbidden to get 
into the boat. I fancy we have never thought of it.” 

“What can we do ?” was Eob’s anxious query. 


120 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ We must get some men and go out with lam I 

terns. We shall he sure to find the boat somewhere.” ] 

A great chill struck Hob’s heart then. It had not 
entered his mind before but that Freddy was safe 
enough. Two summers ago he had seen a little 
drowned boy about Freddy’s age. He remembered 
the half-closed eyes, the wet, hanging hair, and 
swollen, pallid face ; and though he was a plague and 
trouble they all loved him, and he had many sweet, 
cunning ways. It would break mamma’s heart to 
lose him. 

^Irs. Alston came down the walk to meet them. 

“ Is it gone ? ” she asked. 

“ Yes,” ill a grave, cpiiet tone. 

“ 0 Eobert, what can we do ? ” and her voice was 
almost hysterical. 

“ My dearest Dora, do not give way to wild alarm. 

He may be safe.” 

0 Eobert, it is n’t possible ! He must have 
been out nearly three hours. He could n ’t float 
around in that little shell all this time.” 

“ Yes, he might ; that is my hope.” 

Eob grasped his uncle’s hand, though he felt like cry- 
ing. If it was daylight it would n’t seem half so bad. 



HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


121 


^^Eob, go and tell Mr. Morrison to saddle the 
horses and get out both lanterns. I ’ll see Mr. Adams 
and some of the neighbors.” 

Mr. Adams lived in the first house above, — a quiet, 
middle-aged man. His wife’s brother was making 
them a visit, and the two were ready to start at once. 

“ Is the tide going out or coming in ? ” asked Mr. 
Langdon. 

“ It changed at three, I think, and is out, though 
the current is not very strong.” 

It would take the boat out, though.” 

" Yes.” 

And it has been gone about three hours. How 
do you propose to search ? ” 

There is a boat about a mile and a lialf below, the 
nearest one. We must get that and go out. Some 
one might ride round the lake with a lantern. Our 
horses are ready.” 

''We might do that, Langdon, we have two,” said 
Mr. Adams. "We will start immediately, and go 
round the farther side.” 

" Thanks.” 

Two or three others were alarmed, and then Uncle 
liobert hurried back. 


122 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ If you are going to Browne’s you may as well 
take the wagon,” said Hugh, and in a twinkling the 
horses were changed. Jasper and Hero almost flew 
along the road, and it seemed to Koh that he had 
hardly drawn a breath before they reached their 
destination. 

The matter was soon explained to Mr. Browne, and 
the boat was out in a jifiy. Bob and his uncle, Hugh 
Morrison, Mr. Browne and his two boys, made up the 
company. 

“ I ’d go down first,” said J ephthah, who was com- 
monly called Jep. “ A boat floats faster ’n you ’d 
think.” 

“ Ho, let us go up to the lake first,” proposed Uncle 
Eobert. 

They rowed the distance in a few moments, turn- 
ing their lanterns toward the shore, — not a sign of a 
boat to be seen. Farther up flashed some stray lights, 
but though they looked long and steadily they dis- 
cerned nothing. 

You had better go down,” persisted Jep. 

They headed the boat round and started rapidly on 
another tack. After they had passed Mr. Browne’s the 
search began again. The river was so narrow they 
could see both shores easily. 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


123 


Eob was holding a lantern, and with every breath 
a great lump rose in his throat, threatening to strangle 
him. Was poor little Freddy lying at the bottom of 
the river, tangled among the weeds ? For it seemed 
hardly possible that he could have kept still enough 
to remain in the boat, — the venturesome little fellow 
that he was ! 

Jep was in the bow looking straight down the 
river. “ Hillo ! ” he cried, presently. '' There ’s the 
boat, sure as guns ! ” 

Eob strained his eyes to look. They steered around, 
for it seemed to be stationary. 

“ Aground ! Now if the youngster ’s — ” and Mr. 
Browne threw his hook. 

" Oh ! ” and Eob uttered a cry as he grasped his 
uncle’s arm, not daring to look. 

Safe, by the great boot ! ” 

Mr. Browne, being a fisherman, was given to much 
stronger expressions, but he stood a trifle in awe of a 
gentleman Kke Mr. Conover. 

Eob’s eyes were so full of tears that he could not 
see at first, and his whole frame trembled violently. 
He nearly dropped the lantern overboard. 

Asleep ! ” exclaimed Uncle Eobert. " Thank God 


124 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 


for liis ^^reservation ! ” and he bowed his head in grati- 
tude for an instant. 

There he was in the bottom of the boat, his head 
resting on his arm, and his round, rosy face U2:)turned 
with as peaceful an expression as if he were in his 
little bed. Eob thought he had never seen him look 
so sweet, and he was quite sure that he had never 
loved him half so well. 

'' We will row back, I think,” Mr. Conover said, 
‘‘ if you will lend us a pair of oars. You can stop 
and drive home, Hugh.” 

They took the boat in tow, and at j\fr. Browne’s 
made a change, Eob and his uncle stepping over into 
their own. He took Freddy in his arms, as his uncle 
meant to row. 

The child gave a yawn and muttered something, 
but was soon sound asleep again. 

Poor little fellow ! ” said Eob, softly. I wonder 
if he was much frightened ? I never was so glad of 
anything in my life as to see him safe.” 

‘‘ I was very, very thankful,” was the answer, in a 
tone of deep emotion. 

Tliere is some one on the bank,” Eob exclaimed. 

“ All right and safe ! ” called out Uncle Eobert, in a 
strong, cheerful tone. 


HOW FREDDY WENT TO SEA. 


125 


The lights glanced a moment among the bushes, 
and then the riders turned. Kob could not lielp 
thinking how pretty it looked to see a stray gleam 
now and then, for there was no moon, although the 
stars were bright. 

“And the tower is illuminated,” he said, as they 
came in sight, for a long line of light shone over the 
lake. 

Then he was silent, for Uncle Eobert was rowing 
slowly and softly. The coming home might have 
been so different. 

A voice called from the boat-house. It was Ka- 
thie’s, for her mother could not speak. 

“ He ’s safe ! ” Shouted Eob, in great triumph, thjwak- 
ful that he could say it. 


126 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD, 


CHAPTEE VII. 

KATHIE’S GARDENING. 

“ Come, Ettle man, wake up ! ” exclaimed Uncle 
Eobert, reaching over to Freddy, whose head still 
rested in his brother’s arms. 

“ 0-oh ! ” and the little one drew a long breath. 

Come, Freddy, here ’s mamma and Kathie ! ” 

Uncle Eobert fastened the boat and lifted him out, 
but before his eyes were fairly opened his motlier 
had covered his face with kisses. For the last hour 
she had been suffering great mental agony, and 
picturing her child cold and lifeless. All her 
impatience, her lack of any motherly duty or warn- 
ing, rose up before her much exaggerated by her 
passionate grief, for even in her hardest and most 
wearisome days she had been truly thoughtful and 
conscientious. 

0 dear ! what do you want me to get up for ? ” 
began Freddy, with a half-cry. “ It ’s all dark, and J 
know it is n’t morning ! ” 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


127 


Kathie laughed. 

“ Why, you Ve been out to sea ! ” said Eob. 

“ Like the three wise men of Gotham, in a bowl,” 
his uncle rejoined, gayly,as he slid the oars into their 
rack under the shed of the boat-house. 

Freddy stopped short. “Why, mamma,” he said, in 
a tone of great surprise, “ I went out in Eob’s boat, 
and it got loose, and floated ’way, ’way off ! I could 
n’t come back again and I cried, — and I ’m so tired 
and hungry ! ” 

“ That ’s Fred all over. He must have been born 
hungry,” was Eob’s comment. 

Fred stumbled and clung to his uncle, who took 
him up in his arms. Eob slipped his hand within 
his mother’s, and gave it a tender little pressure. So 
the procession wended its way toward the house. 

“Mamma,” said Eob, falling a trifle behind the 
others, “ I want to talk to you.” 

“ Well, my son ” ; and as she leaned on Eob’s arm 
there seemed a strange sweet sense of manliness and 
protection about him, at once grateful and touching 
to her heart. 

“Mamma dear, now. that we have Freddy back 
safe, will you please not punish him ? It was my 


128 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


fault, for I did n’t fasten the boat, and uncle said he 
had not been forbidden to go there.” 

Anything like this was very unusual on blob’s 
part. Generally, if Freddy did wrong, he was quite 
whiling to have him suffer for it, and very ready to 
complain of him. 

“ Will you, mamma ? ” 

The voice was so soft and pleading, and she almost 
guessed that there wxre tears in Eoh’s eyes. 

“ Freddy ought to know some things without always 
being told. But if you wish it so much — ” 

‘"0 mamma, I felt so dreadfully before w^e had 
found him. It seemed to me that I was all to blame, 
and just as we looked into the boat I thought I 
should strangle, there was such a choking in my 
throat. When I caught sight of his dear little face 
my heart gave a hound, and I felt as if I had never 
loved him before. I can’t tell you — ” and the boy- 
ish voice faltered through tears. 

“ My dear, dear Bob !” 

She stooped and kissed him in the darkness. In- 
deed, it seemed as if Bob had never loved any of 
them half so well before. 

Aunt Buth w^as w^aiting on the porch, and two or 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


129 


three of the neighbors had come in. There were 
some heartfelt congratulations, and Freddy became 
quite confused amidst the kissing and questions. 
Then Mr. Adams and Mr. Langdon arrived. 

“ Well, young sailor,” said the former, pinching 
Freddy’s cheek, “ you have given us quite an excite- 
ment and a rather romantic search. You can’t tell, 
Mr. Conover, how glad I was to hear your cheerful 
voice. It seems a perfect miracle that the child 
knew enough to keep in the boat, when a little fear, 
or ejen an attempt to save himself, as youngsters 
usually do, might have cost his life. How did 
you come to keep so still ? ” 

1 was afraid of getting drown-ded,” said Freddy, 
with a good deal of complacency. 

“I am more than thankful for all your sakes.” 

Mrs. Alston took her little boy into the dining- 
room presently, for she found that he was being 
made a hero very rapidly. She gave him some 
supper, and then prepared him for bed. 

" Freddy,” she said, taking him on her lap, " did 
you not know that it was naughty to go into Fob’s 
boat without asking permission ? ” 

Freddy hung his head a little. I did n’t mean to 


130 


KATHTE’S summer at cedarwood. 


sail/’ he replied, slowly; “and I did n’t touch the 
rowers.” 

“ The oars. And yet niy little boy ought to have 
asked mamma or Brotlier Eob. It is very wrong 
to take or use anything belonging to another, un- 
less you have permission. You might have been 
drowned.” 

“ But I did n’t want the boat to go. I was only 
making believe sail, — just this way” ; and Freddy 
rocked himseK backwards and forwards upon his 
mother’s knee ; “ then the boat came loose.” ^ 

“So you see it was very dangerous. Were you 
not frightened ? ” 

Freddy considered. It must be confessed that at 
first he had felt very much elated. As the wind 
blew him slowly across the lake, he cheered lustily 
and waved his handkerchief, being delighted with 
the unassisted progress ; but presently, when the 
shores began to look strange, he tried to get the 
boat back to her moorings. Alas, little hands, how 
helpless you were, although stimulated with a child’s 
best courage and ignorance of any danger ! 

“ I was afraid one time, and I lay down in the 
boat and cried,” he admitted, slowly, for now that he 


KATHIE’S GARDENING, 


131 


was safe it seemed ratlier babyish to have felt any 
anxiety. ' 

God took care of you, Freddy. You might have 
been drowned very easily indeed. If the boat had 
tipped over, or if the wind had been high, — indeed, 
it has been a very narrow escape, and we are all most 
gi*ateful to see you here safe. When we missed you 
and found the boat gone, we were dreadfully worried ; 
and suppose there had been no one to aend, — you 
mustAiave stayed out in the boat all night ! ” 

“^ould a bear or crocodile have caught me, 
mamma ? ” 

Mrs. Alston was compelled to smile. You were 
in more danger of drowning than anything else. 
You are too little and too venturesome to go alone 
on the water, remember that. I don’t even want you 
to climb out on the stones unless some one is there 
to give you leave. And now, Freddy, listen to 
me. I should punish you but for one thing, — dear 
Eob was so glad to have you back that he begged 
me not to. It is for his sake, as I think you have 
been very naughty, and fully deserved it. You must 
be very good to Eob for his kindness. 

Freddy looked quite sober. He had not thought 
of any punishment before. 


132 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Now will you remember, — you are not to get 
into the boat unless some one gives you permission, 
if you do, it will be a very serious matter for you. 
And you must thank God for taking care of you. 
He does n’t always bring naughty boys safely 
home.” 

Eob and Kathie came in to kiss him again and say 
good night. Kathie’s eyes were full of tears, and 
Eob had a*, tender feeling round his heart. 

“ I know I shall never be so careless again,V Eob 
said to Kathie. • 

It was a great fright, and we cannot be too glad 
that you found him. Mamma and I walked up and 
down the bank, but my heart ached most for her. It 
would be very hard to lose any of us.” 

Eob winked away a tear. He had not thought 
much of a mother’s unwearied care and watchfulness 
before, indeed he had sometimes felt that she was 
unnecessarily fearful, but he did not wonder now. 

Freddy was bright enough the next morning, and 
gave quite a coherent account of his tour. The 
children made him tell it over again at school, and, 
in spite of a little misgiving, he could not help con- 
sidering it quite an exploit. 


KATHIE'S GARDENING 


133 


Kathie and Miss Jessie finished Eob’s sailor suit, 
and they had a gay time over the presentation. The 
boy looked decidedly handsome in it, for he put it on 
to do honor to the occasion. Then he gave the two 
girls a nice row, as he could use both oars very well. 
Charlie was with them and taking a lesson, for he 
began to like the amusement very much. 

‘"Eob,” he said, ‘‘would n’t it be nice to have a 
boat-club? Dick was talking about it. And he 
thought some of the boys might join together and 
buy another boat, so we could have some racing.” 

“ Why, that ’s a splendid idea ! ” and Eob rested 
his oar in the row-lock. “ Dick is pretty good. How 
many would there be, I wonder ? At any rate, I 
want you ! ” 

“ I ’m not sure but that I should take a share in 
the other boat. I asked father, and he did n’t object.” 

“ 0, that ’s too bad ! All you nice fellows will go 
over to the enemy .' ” 

Charlie laughed. “ We should all be good friends, 
T hope. It would be more fun to have two boats.” 

“ We could row against time with this, and there 
are four oars. How many boys would there be, I 
wonder ? ” 


134 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Fred Lauriston and Bryan Hinckley, Dick, and 
myself, — with you, five that know how to row a 
little.” 

“ If you get a good strong party, I ’ll ask Uncle 
Kobert to join mine,” Bob declared, laughingly. 

That very night he discussed the project with his 
uncle. 

“Why, I think it will be very pleasant through 
vacation,” he said, “and capital exercise for you 
boys.” 

So there was quite an excitement in the school, 
and it bade fair at its fever height to interfere with 
Latin and Greek. How and then an exercise came 
to hand with an additional sketch of a row-boat and 
the small crew pulling with all their might. 

When Lu Simonds heard of the plan he was most 
anxious to be counted in. He was no favorite with 
Dick or Charlie, and Eob had rather outgrown his 
first boyish admiration of a companion who could 
have as much money as he liked and spend it 
foolishly. So the boys had to be pretty cautious. 
They appointed a meeting at Eob’s, and determined 
to ask Mr Conover’s advice. 

“ If four of you boys are willing to put in for a 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


135 


share, I think it can be easily managed. Then you 
can give whatever invitations you like, or, if you 
choose to form a club, that might be the better 
way.” 

“ I can have a share,” said Charlie. 

‘'And I,” was Dick Grayson’s announcement. 

" I ’m pretty sure father will let me,” Bryan Hinck- 
ley said. 

Fred colored. He was a fine fellow, in the senior 
class, but he had hard work to get along. This was 
his last school year at Brookside. He would be 
seventeen in the fall, and then meant to try the world 
on his own account. 

“ Boys,” he said, frankly, — though how great an 
effort it cost him none of them knew, — “I don’t want 
you to consider me mean or stingy, but my grand- 
father gives me all the money I can earn, and I want 
to work my way through college. And though I 
could take part of what I ’ve saved up, I don’t think 
it would be just right ; but I ’d like — ” 

"No, Fred,” replied Mr. Conover, as the youth 
hesitated, " it would not be quite the thing. And if 
you have planned to go away, you will need all that 
you can get.” 


136 


KATHIES SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ If I could be sure of selling the share I would n’t 
mind.” 

“Why not join Eob’s club?” Mr. Conover asked. 

“ But the trouble about this share. We don’t want 
Lu Simonds in, sir,” Fred answered. 

“ Well, I will take the share at present, and if you 
desire any one to have it he may.” 

“ Hurrah ! ” exclaimed Dick. 

“ Four will do for a crew, Mr. Conover ? ” 

“ Better say five, for fear of accidents.” 

“ But what am I to do ? ” asked Bob, rather dole- 
fully. “ Uncle Eobert, would it be fair for you to 
join my side ? ” 

“ I ’d have to count for two,” returned Mr. Conover, 
laughing. 

“ Well, why not ? Then I ’ll only have to hunt up 
two more.” 

“ The boys must decide this.” 

“ But you could row better than any two of us,” 
said Dick Grayson. 

“ That is quite possible.” 

“ He lias been so kind that I think we ought,” 
Bryan said. 

“ No, boys, that has nothing to do with it. We will 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


137 


not decide the matter now. Eob may find enough 
for his crew. At all events, we will wait a while. 
I think that you had better not go too deeply into it 
until vacation.” 

That ’s a fact,” replied Dick. Mr. Crittenden 
said yesterday that some of us had boat on the 
brain.” 

“Just form your club in the mean while, and 
practise a little. Vacation will soon be here.” 

The meeting broke up with the utmost good feel- 
ing ; but as Eob was walking up the lawn with his 
uncle he said, “ It ’s rather hard on me, I think, 
all tlw nice fellows going to the other boat.” 

“ I have faith that it will come out fair for your 
side, though,” his uncle replied, smilingly. 

Kathie was very much interested, but of course 
espoused her brother’s side warmly. 

“ It will be a very good thing for them to liave 
another boat,” she said, “ then ours will be a little 
more at liberty.” 

She and Miss Jessie found it very convenient to 
row across the lake when tliey wanted to go to the 
woods, as it was quite a drive around. They went 
after wild-fiowers, mosses, and pine cones ; for Kathie 


138 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


was much interested in the manufacture of certain 
stands and baskets that were to be disposed about 
the porch and lawn. The roses and vines put out 
the summer before were doing nicely, though at first 
Kathie counted their leaves. After a week or two 
this was not possible. 

Her pansies were doing finely. It seemed at first 
as if nothing would ever come of the little round 
leaves ; but presently two that were longer peeped 
out, and then a tiny cluster. 

“ They will be in bloom in five or six weeks,” Mr. 
Morrison said. 

“ From the middle until the end of May.” 

“ Yes. You may clioose a bed, and we will get the 
soil rightly prepared. There is a good deal in that.” 

“ But how do you know ? ” 

“ 0, 1 keep reading ; I have several books at home ; 
and then, too, I try experiments.” 

Kathie began to think the experiments very enter- 
taining. Uncle Eobert brought home a book on 
floriculture, and she and Aunt Euth studied it in- 
dustriously. Indeed, Aunt Euth was thankful to 
be well enough to share these pleasant labors. E\ ery 
day she grew stronger, and she was only a very little 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


139 


lame. She gained flesh quite rapidly, and looked 
young and pretty once more. 

Every day Kathie found out something new. The 
brown buds on the Norway pines burst open one day, 
and disclosed the prettiest little clusters of pale green 
that were just ready to shoot out; then the larches 
began with their slender tassels, the firs and cedars in 
their various tints. The white and the Austrian 
pines thrust their needles through the brown cover- 
ing and seemed to grow every minute; the maples 
and beeches blossomed, and the climbing roses began 
to bud. 

‘'I don’t believe there ’s a place in the whole 
world as beautiful as Cedarwood ! ” Kathie exclaimed, 
with enthusiasm. And yet I was almost afraid at 
first, it looked so dismal and forlorn.” 

“ A little care and a good deal of labor have quite 
transformed it. We could n’t have found a better 
man than Mr. Morrison. That was a lucky thought 
of yours, Kathie.” 

The Morrisons’ cottage vied with it in beauty, 
certainly. Hugh and his wife were both great lovers 
of nature. Mrs. Morrison had her own garden, that 
was kept neat and trim, and the vines were trained 


140 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


around the doorway and beside the windows, so that 
the house might be sweet with rose and honeysuckle 
bloom. 

Presently it came time to put out the house-plants. 
Kathie was busy as a bee, and called on Uncle 
Eobert for assistance. At one side of the house there 
was a large space devoted especially to dowers, and a 
number of smaller beds here and there in the lawn. 

“ Suppose we fill these with some one particular 
thing ; for instance, this one with heliotrope ? ” said 
Uncle Eobert. 

“ But we have n’t enough.” 

“ I think we can make it do. Bring the pots over 
here.” 

There are three in purple, and one that is white.” 

“ Well, we will take that for the centre.” 

“Then I don’t see how you are going to make 
three go around it.” 

“You fancy that you cannot make a circle out 
of three ? ” 

“ I don’t know what you can do,” she answered, 
with a doubtful smile. 

“ Three is a magical number. I shall fill this bed 
with the remaining plants. And, Kathie, a cross can 
be made with three pennies.” 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


141 


There was something so quizzical in his look that 
Kathie had a dim suspicion she was being taken 
in. 

“ I 11 try it by and by,” she said, slowly. “ What 
are you going for ? ” — as he turned to leave her. 

“ Some charcoal.” 

She sat down on the grass and waited for him to 
return, wondering in her mind what he meant to do 
with charcoal. He came back with a great basin full 
of pulverized fragments, then he dug three small 
holes at even distances. 

“ That makes a triangle of it,” Kathie said, watch- 
ing him closely. Then he poured in some charcoal, 
took the plants out of the pots and placed them in, 
and put a little more coal over the top. 

“ What is that for ? ” she asked. 

To give them a beautiful deep color.” 

How odd ! Who told you ? ” 

“ 0, I knew that long ago. We will doctor some 
of our red roses with it also. It will make their 
color much richer.” 

“ 0, what are you doing ? ” — for with his scissors 
he was snipping off branches here and there. 

Her pretty face was full of pain, as if it had hurt 


142 


kathie’s summer at cedarwood. 


her, and her voice had a little strand of terror in 
it. 

“ My dear child, these are to be new heliotropes.” 

But you ’ve spoiled the others.” 

No, for where these were cut off they will push 
out half a dozen new shoots. Now we will set these 
in the ground.” 

He placed about a dozen at intervals, and then 
sprinkled charcoal plentifully over tlie surface. 

“We will cover these slips with tlie pots, in this 
fashion ” ; and he inverted them. “ They must be wet 
once every day, and the coverings taken off at night. 
In a month we shall have a magnificent bed of 
heliotrope.” 

Kathie looked at it rather regretfully. 

“ Where is your faith, little girl ? ” 

She smiled then and replied, as she glanced up 
archly, “ If I were Eob, I should say it looked rather 
skinny.” 

The roses were put out, and the geraniums. A 
good many of these last Uncle Eobert divided also. 
Then the pansies were arranged. 

“There ’s quite a deal of gardening done, but I 
can’t resolve about the cross and the three pennies. 


KATHIE’S GARDENING. 


143 


I Ve been trying to do it every way in my head, and 
can only make a triangle. You cannot cut off pieces 
as you did with the heliotrope.” 

“ Try, when you go into the house.” 

“ Where ’s Gypsy ? ” and she glanced around. 
“ Come, Gypsy, little birdie.” 

There was no answer, and Kathie glanced around 
in alarm. 

“ Gypsy ! ” 

Peep ! ” called the daintiest little voice in the 
world. 

'' 0, look. Uncle Eobert ! he ’s there on the fir.” 

Sure enough he was perched on the slender cedar, 
which bent with his weight, and the soft wind 
swayed him to and fro. He looked so saucy and 
cunning that they both laughed. 

Kathie went towards the porch calling him, and at 
the last moment he swept down Eke a flash and 
alighted on her shoulder. 

“You have had enough frolic,” she said, “ and now 
you must go into your house.” 

Gypsy did not like this part so well, and winked 
out of his black eye in a most beguiling manner. 
But somehow he seemed to understand that he must 


144 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


be content, and in a few moments was pouring forth 
a succession of the most brilliant trills. 

Kathie took a batli and changed her dress, for 
gardening always left a touch of the soil. She 
went down stairs and found Uncle Eobert in the 
library. 

“ I ’ve been trying these pennies,” she exclaimed, 
in a perplexed tone, “ and you cannot place them in 
the form of a cross.” 

“ Well, I said make a cross with them ” ; and the 
least little smile lurked under the fringe of mus- 
tache. 

“ I can’t do it.” 

Uncle Eobert took the three between his thumb 
and finger and marked the form of a cross on the 
library table. 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed Kathie, and then she laughed. 

“ It ’s a rather boyish trick. I learned it when I 
was a youngster. But you know now how to fill a 
circle with three plants of heliotrope.” 

“ I think I have learned a good deal this morning, 
and there ’s the dinner-bell. Like Freddy, I ’m 
hungry ” ; and she gave Uncle Eobert’s hand a ten- 
der squeeze. 


ON THE LAKE. 


145 


CHAPTEE VIII. 

ON THE LAKE. 

The pansy-bed flourished finely. In about seven 
weeks from the planting they began to blossom. 
There were many varieties, and they presented a very 
rich and elegant appearance in their deep velvety 
purple, soft violet, orange, yellow, and some almost 
white. Kathie was very particular about the slips 
of hehotrope, and out of the twelve they lost only 
two. The plants that had been trimmed grew 
thicker and were loaded with clustering blooms. 

“ That ’s a success certainly,” declared Kathie. 

Freddy was very much interested in gardening 
also. He had a nice large plot in which he planted 
flower-seeds first, but as they did not make their 
appearance in the course of a few days, he raked 
his ground over and planted vegetables, which he 
proposed to sell to Hannah, who willingly promised 
to buy all that he could raise. These not succeeding 
to his expectations, corn w^as his next experiment. 

10 


146 


KATHIK’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


By that time he was tired, and amused himself with 
the rabbits, guinea-pigs, and Polly, who was never 
weary of making a noise. She always seemed 
delighted with the sound of her voice, whether she 
were mocking cat, bird, or bobolink, or screaming 
as only a parrot can. 

To the great delight of Kathie and Bred a brood 
of young chickens came out. Soft little downy 
things, that hardly knew how to manage their two 
legs, and showed a tendency to tumble over on their 
heads for the first few days, but who soon peeped 
and ran about in the cunningest fashion. They 
were eclipsed by the ducks, however. Mr. Morrison 
had bought a pair of beautiful white top-knots, and 
there were seven little ones tinged with the softest 
gray, who took to the water hke fishes. 

“We can almost imagine that they are swans,” 
said Kathie, in a tone of delight. 

The boat-clubs did not languish, although they had 
some difficulty in getting them just right. When 
Mr. Langdon heard of the affair he came over to see 
Bob, and offered his services. The boys thought that 
might balance Mr. Conover, for they were all very 
anxious to take him in. He was desirous of having 


ON THE LAKE. 


147 


a share in the boat, for Mr. Adams’s house, like the 
Alstons’, was near the lake, so he proposed that the 
head-quarters of one club should be there. The com- 
pany was formed, and after many discussions Dick 
Grayson carried the day, and they adopted the name 
of Nereids. Dick, Charlie, Bryan Hinckley, and Mr. 
Langdon w^ere members of that, while Lauriston came 
over to Eob’s side. Tom Weir and Walter Dorrance 
were accepted, and then the Iona was complete, 
although at any time, if they chose to have two 
boys in the place of the gentlemen, the seniors would 
consider themselves honorary members. 

The boating interfered a good deal with the geo- 
logical excursions. Eob, in true boy-fashion, had 
room for only one great idea at a time. Mr. Lang- 
don and Mr. Conover put their heads together, and 
decided, as presidents of the respective clubs, that 
there should be no regular racing until after vaca- 
tion ; but the boys did some on their own account 
every Saturday. 

The time of closing drew near. . Lauriston, Hinck- 
ley, and two others, were in their last year, and were 
termed by courtesy the graduating class, though there 
were half a dozen more boys in the first form. 


148 


kATHlE’S SUMMER AT CEDAfeWOOD. 


The closing exercises were always interesting at 
the Academy, but this year they excited more than 
ordinary attention. Parents and friends of the 
pupils were invited to come, and the boys began 
to count on quite a gala-day. 

'' If we could fix up a little,” Charlie Darrell said, 
glancing around at the bare, dingy walls. 

Fix up ! How ? ” asked one of the boys. 

“ Wliy, make things look pretty.” 

Charlie ’s just like a girl about such matters,” 
said Lauriston ; “ but I don’t see exactly what we 
could do.” 

"‘Why, we might get some greens, and have a 
flag or two, and some flowers.” 

'' J ust it ! ” exclaimed Dick Grayson ; “ I don’t 
know as I can do much of the work, for my Latin 
oration drives me pretty hard with all the other 
matters, but I can get a host of flowers. Say, boys, 
let ’s talk to Mr. Deane about it.” 

So a knot of them waylaid Mr. Deane that after- 
noon. Beautifying had never occurred to him before. 

“ Why, yes,” he said. “ I believe we are to have 
quite an audience, and we might brighten up a bit ; 
but the worst of such an undertaking is that a good 


ON THE LAKE. 


149 


many want to talk and plan, and there ’s only a few 
to do the work.” 

“ I ’ll work,” said Charlie, manfully . 

“ And I too,” added Koh and Dick. 

''You had better let Charlie plan,” Lauriston 
declared. 

" Let ’s have a committee-meeting. Order, order ! ” 

" Here ’s a chairman ! ” and two or three thrust 
Charlie into Mr. Crittenden’s leathern-covered arm- 
chair. " Now for a speech ! ” 

With that, silence fell upon all the boys for an 
instant, and then a hearty laugh ensued. 

" Well, Charlie, tell us what is to be done,” Hinck- 
ley said. " I guess your head ’s level on the matter.” 

Charlie Darrell colored, but he was very much in 
earnest, and plunged into the subject at once. "We 
could go to the woods and get ground-pine for fes- 
toons, and cedar and hemlock branches and laurel 
leaves — ” 

" When shall we go ? ” 

" Thursday is closing-day. Wednesday afternoon 
we ought to do the most of our work. To-morrow 
we ought to go to the woods.” 

"That ’s the talk!” 


150 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


'"We ’ll ask Mr. Crittenden to-morrow.” 

With a little fun and frolic the hoys dispersed. 
The next day there was a grand consultation, though 
at first Mr. Crittenden was afraid it would take the 
hoys’ attention too much. 

Some of the younger ones are going to do most 
of the work,” explained Lauriston. 

No further demur was made. The hoys went to 
the woods and came home laden witli spoils. They 
packed their greens in the wood-shed, sketched some 
sort of plan of their work, and concluded they had 
done enough for one day. 

Wednesday was a rather broken day. Exercises 
were gone over and corrected for the last time, some 
of the lesser examinations were concluded, and there 
was a reign of constrained hut general confusion. 
At one they were dismissed. 

Then the hoys went to work in good earnest. The 
large room was swept and dusted, and the seats 
arranged, leaving quite a space for visitors. While 
some of the hoys twisted the long sprays of pine 
together, Charlie perched himself on the ladder and 
drove the nails. Eoh and Lauriston followed, hang- 
ing the festoons. 


ON THE LAKE. 


151 


“ Why, even that transforms the place ! ” declared 
Hinckley. “ What next, Charlie ? ” 

Charlie took a survey with a critical eye. “We 
want to fasten a cluster of laurel-leaves in here 
and there, and there must be some sort of pretty 
bunches made for these brackets. Then if we could 
have a small bouquet of flowers put in each one, 
— And what about the flags ? They ought to be 
arranged over the platform.” 

“We have one,” said Dick. 

Walter' Dorrance promised another. 

They fastened sprays of evergreen around the 
brackets that now and then held candles at a busi- 
ness meeting. Then they trimmed Mr. Crittenden’s 
desk, and Mr. Deane’s, which stood in a little recess. 

“ Boys, do you know that it is after six ? ” 

“ 0, what has become of the afternoon ? ” 

“ Look there ! Now, that ’s nobby, I say. Why, it 
looks like a chapel ! ” 

Every face glowed with conscious satisfaction. 

“ Three cheers for Charlie Darrell ! ” exclaimed 
Lauriston ; and the school-room rang to the hearty 
hurrah, as the boys swung round their hats. 

“ Now the flags and the flowers. Two or three of 


152 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


US must come bright and early to-morrow morning. 
Exercises commence at ten.” 

There was a profusion of flowers, the boys found. 
Jessie Darrell had sent two large vases, and Ka- 
thie several smaller ones. The dingy, common- 
place building was absolutely transformed, and not 
a boy but that felt repaid for his labor. Some 
of those who had laughed at the idea at first ad- 
mitted in their secret liearts that it was a decided 
success. There is something in beauty and harmony 
that appeals to the rudest heart ; and as the classes 
marched in from the recitation-room just at ten, they 
held their heads erect with conscious pride, and felt 
really nobler and better than in their every-day, 
commonplace surroundings. Charlie Darrell had 
but followed out his natural love in proposing the 
adornment, and yet he had roused more real feeling 
upon the subject than the most eloquent lecture 
could have done. 

Quite a number of ladies and gentlemen were 
assembled, and they continued to enter by twos and 
threes until some more benches had to be brought. 
Mr. Crittenden felt really proud of the audience, for 
it Avas the largest tliat had ever been to an Academy 
examination. 


ON THE LAKE. 


153 


The exercises commenced. There was a brief 
prayer by one of the Brookside clergymen, and a 
short address. The examination of several classes 
followed this, and the boys were ready and correct 
with their answers. Each one of the graduating 
class delivered an oration, but Lauriston’s was ad- 
mitted to be the finest. There were some exercises 
by the younger boys, the distribution of prizes, the 
roll of honor was read, then the names of the distin- 
guished pupils, and, last, those who were meritorious. 
Charlie DarrelFs was among the former, and Eob’s 
headed the latter list. The whole closed with an 
address, which contained many sensible remarks and 
no little good counsel for the boys, both those who 
were going away and those who remained. 

Afterward there was a great deal of congratulation 
and hand-shaking. Mr. Crittenden felt really proud 
of his boys. He told Mr. Deane that he had never 
enjoyed an examination so much, and he parted from 
many of them with absolute regret. 

Once fairly out of doors, there was no end to the 
shouts and hurrahs. The boys appeared to be fairly 
wild ; even the presence of their mothers and sisters 
scarcely restrained them. 


154 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


‘‘ How beautifully you did make the room look ! 
Miss Jessie said, with her brightest smile. 

“ Charlie ought to have the credit of that idea.” 

'' But you all worked,” was Charlie’s modest dis- 
claimer. 

"And you furnished the brains.” 

“ How for a jolly time,” said Dick. " Latin and 
Greek may go to the winds.” 

" And we ’ll go to the boats.” 

They all laughed. It takes only a little to make 
merriment for happy boys. Before they parted a 
short consultation was held. The two clubs would 
meet to-morrow morning on the lake, and have a 
good practice, to say the least. 

"I ’m so sorry that you were not amongst the 
distinguished pupils,” said Kathie to Bob after they 
reached home. 

" Well, I suppose that I was n’t distinguished for 
anything,” answered Bob. " I stand very fair, so you 
will have to be content v/ith that.” 

" But I don’t like to have Charlie Darrell ahead of 
you. He is n’t quite so old, either.” 

"It comes natural for him to be good, and all 
that,” declared Bob. " I believe he ’s cut out for a 


ON THE LAKE. 


155 


parson, and if he is asked a question he always has 
everything at his tongue’s end. It would kill me to 
remember so much.” 

“ 0 no, Eob,” said his uncle, good-naturedly. 

“ Well, I can’t do it, but when you come to ball or 
cricket, or even rowing, there is n’t a fellow hi the 
Academy that can beat me, and they know it ! ” 

“ Life cannot be all cricket and boating,” his uncle 
replied, gravely. 

“I ’m just ‘telling you what comes natural to me. 
Now I ’ll bet that I ’ve studied a good deal harder 
than Charlie, and I ’ve had twenty temptations to 
talk and to do wrong things where he has had one. 
It is n’t hard work for him to be good, but I ’m not a 
particle like him. I don’t mean that he is n’t nice, 
or that I don’t admire him, but I ’m sure there are 
worse boys in the world, and even at the Academy, 
than I have been. What are you smiling at. Uncle 
Eobert ? ” 

'Wour defence. I don’t expect you to be like 
Charlie Darrell. On the whole I think your school 
year has been very fair, and you have made some im- 
provement. I should sooner recommend Hinckley 
or Lauriston for an example.” 


156 


KATHIK’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ Uncle Eobert, I think Lauriston is a real fine 
fellow. I Ve liked him ever since the talk about 
buying the boat. It was so brave in him to say just 
what he did, and rather hard too.” 

“What do you suppose you would have done, 
Eob ? ” 

“ Well, if I had loved to row as well, I fancy that 
I should have put in for a share. I would n’t want 
the boys to think me mean.” 

“ Did any of you consider him mean ? ” 

“No, we did n’t. It was real noble.” 

“ Why should you feel afraid then ? ” 

Eob colored. “ I don’t believe that I can explain. 
When you undertake to do these things yourself you 
don’t seem to have as much faith in other people’s 
judging you rightly.” 

“ Ah, Eob, you must do what is right, and leave the 
blame or praise out of the question. Think of some- 
tliing higher than mere human opinion.” 

“ I ’m almost sorry to leave the Academy, after all. 
I begin to like such fellows as Lauriston and Hinckley 
and Weir. But they ’re not coming next term. Do 
you really think that I shall go away ? ” 

“ I have a fancy that it will be best.” 


ON THE LAKE. 


157 


“ 0, well, I ’ll like it anyhow ’ ; and Eob fell to 
whistling in true boyish fashion. 

Because it was vacation, I suppose, he went up to 
his store-room and tumbled everything about, took 
part of his tools out to the barn under the impression 
that he was in sore need of some article or other, and 
then Jasper seemed to invite him to ride. Down 
went hammer and hatchet, and saddling Jasper he 
was off full tilt. 

0,” said Kathie, “ I guess Eob forgot that we 
wanted to go to Staunton. But you and I can go in 
the little wagon. Aunt Euth, and we ’ll tuck Freddy 
in somewhere, or he will feel so disappointed.” 

Eob was so delighted with his sense of freedom 
that he could think of no one else. He had a good 
canter, and came home in higher spirits than ever. 

The boys began their vacation by taking an early 
start the next morning. By nine they had assembled 
and the boats were out. Eob and Tom Weir were 
oarsmen of the Jessie, while Dick and Bryan Hinck- 
ley managed the Titan. Tom was a strong, healthy 
fellow, with an abundance of muscle, and for young 
beginners they did very well. Uncle Eobert watched 
them from the bank, corrected false strokes, and gave 


158 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


both parties useful hints. They went the length of 
the lake several times ; now the Nereids were ahead, 
then the lonas. They were all a good deal excited, 
and cheered in an uproarious fashion. The quiet 
lake was little used to such boisterous merriment, 
and sent back startled echoes from the dim, woody 
shores. At last the rowers began to show signs of 
giving out. Uncle Eobert made the signal, and they 
turned slowly shoreward, breathless, and heated with 
their exertion. 

Pretty evenly matched,” declared Uncle Eobert. 

“ Now you and Mr. Langdon ought to try. We 
want to see who has the best man.” 

‘'We are at your service any time,” he replied, 
gayly. “ Ours, you will remember, are not regulation 
crews. We all mean to do the best we can in a 
healthful, honest way, and there must be no jealousies 
or heart-burnings.” 

Both parties assented to this, but in their secret 
Aearts each hoped that the winning side would be 
his. 

“ I think we ought to have a match pretty soon,” 
exclaimed Dick. “We will have the shore lined 
with a large and enthusiastic concourse of spectators, 


ON THE LAKE. 


159 


and crowds of lovely ladies will wave their handker- 
chiefs ; is n’t that the way of newspaper descrip- 
tions ? ” 

The boys laughed heartily. 

“ We might try on Saturday afternoon ; could n’t 
we, Uncle Eobert ? ” 

“ Yes ; you will be in pretty good practice by that 
time.” 

Mr. Langdon and Uncle Eobert took a turn alone 
that evening, with the boys for spectators. They 
were pretty evenly matched. Mr. Conover had the 
most endurance, but Mr. Langdon had been skilfully 
trained. The boys were very well satisfied with 
their champions, and they decided to have a rowing- 
match on Saturday afternoon. 

Numerous invitations were given out. The lake 
was about a mile long, and at the upper end, the 
shore being rather rugged and elevated, a fine view of 
the whole could be obtained. This was to be the 
starting-point. Both crews were to row down to the 
curve, where Silver Eiver commenced its course, and 
back again. 'Going down the boys were to try their 
skill alone, and coming back the champions were to 
lead off. 


IGO 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Saturday afternoon being a leisure time with many 
people in Brookside, there was a crowd, sure enough. 
The boys turned out strong. Both schools were well 
represented, but the Academy boys set up the highest 
claim. Even Mr. Deane was there, as he had con- 
sented to act as one of the judges. The other was 
Mr. Adams. 

Of the Nereids, Dick and Bryan held the oars, 
while Charlie was at the helm. Bob’s boating-suit 
had been copied quite extensively, and the boys 
looked very attractive in their blue and white, their 
broad collars open at the throat and tied with a black 
ribbon. The faces were so bright and eager that it 
was quite a study to watch them. 

They took their seats and the signal was given. 
Bob began with his longest strokes, and in a short 
time was a boat’s length ahead. The boys on the 
shore cheered the Tonas heartily, and Bob and Tom 
both felt the added inspiration. Dick Grayson 
pulled steadily, looking straight before him, but 
Bryan was a trifle flurried and disheartened. 

“ They ’ll tire themselves out,” said Dick ; “ I am 
counting on that.” 

“ Bob ’s the best oarsman of the lot,” was Bryan’s 
answer, and on they went. 


ON THE LAKE. 


161 


Wlien they were half-way down, the Nereids 
began to gain. 

“ Hurry up ! ” exclaimed Charlie, from his post. 
“We may beat yet.” 

“A little too soon,” was Dick’s brief response. 

They could see Mr. Langdon and Mr. Conover on 
the little point of ground, and Eob redoubled his 
efforts, but he began to feel rather tired, and could 
not make every stroke tell. Then the Nereids 
came in gallantly. Dick had been waiting for this 
moment. On and on, nearer, nearer, the boats were 
head and head, then the Jessie swerved a little from 
an unlucky stroke, and the Titan’s bow touched the 
shore. 

“ Well done ! ” exclaimed Uncle Eobert. 

Eob’s face flushed with anger and disappointment, 
the first natural tumult of feeling. Then, with a 
strong effort, he commanded himself. 

“ It ’s too bad ! ” said Tom, in his jolly fashion, 
“but we must own up beat. We did our best, 
however.” 

“ If it had n’t been for that last stroke or two,” 
declared Eob, regretfully, loath to own the defeat. 

Mr. Langdon took out his watch. 


11 


162 


KATHIE’S SUMMEK AT CEDARWOOb. 


“ For young beginners you have made excellent 
time/’ he said. “ And our side gained by only a very 
little,” — noticing Eob’s disappointed expression. 

“ No, Mr. Langdon, you shall not spoil our victory, 
for it was that ; and if we had been beaten, of course 
we would have borne it with a good grace,” Bryan 
replied, with boyish complacency. 

The two men laughed. Eob began to recover from 
his chagrin and smiled also. Charlie Darrell was 
very enthusiastic ; indeed, the Nereids enjoyed their 
side of the race immensely. 

The boys rested up a few moments. They were 
anxious to get back to the crowd, but Mr. Conover 
would not consent to start immediately. At length 
they took their seats, turned about, and stood fair. 

At a given signal they started. The strokes were 
musically regular, the oars flashed and feathered in 
the soft green and golden light made by the shadows 
thrown across the lake by the overhanging trees. 
For more than half the distance they kept together, 
much to Eob’s discomfiture, then the Jessie shot 
ahead. 

The boys, of course, were rather tired, so Mr. Lang- 
don and Mr. Conover did the hardest part of the 


ON THE LAKE. 


163 


work. They both entered largely into the spirit of 
it, especially when they came near enough to hear 
the shouts and cheers. The Titan gained again, but 
it was only momentary. Then a flaw of wind camf 
down the lake, but Mr. Conover, more used to dis, 
advantages than his opponent, made the best of this, 
and the Jessie skimmed gallantly along into port. 

“ Three cheers for the Jessie ! ” 

Eob sprang up in the boat and waved his hat in 
triumph to the laggards. 

“ You Ve beat ! ” acknowledged Mr. Langdon, 
“though I believe I have done nothing like this 
since college days. It was a tight race.” 

There was a lively time on shore. The results 
were very fair to each, though Dick insisted that Mr. 
Conover alone was the winner. Eob was not par- 
ticular so that he came in on the winning side, but 
the boys, one and all, took it in good part. As for 
the spectators, they were about equally divided, and 
very warm partisans. Miss Jessie was called this 
way and that, her interest in her brother divided by 
her jaunty little namesake that lay rocking in the tide. 

“Well, we beat once. Miss Darrell,” said Dick, 
rather triumphantly, “and T suppose that ought to 
satisfy us.” 


164 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 


Presently the crowd began to disperse, though the 
boats took in a number of passengers, as several 
guests had been invited to tea at the Alstons’, and 
many of the children were crazy for a sail. 

“It was royal,” Eob said that evening, sitting on 
the porch fragrant with honeysuckle. “And I was 
so glad that we beat once at least.” 

“I saw the disappointment the first time. Tom 
and Walter took it better.” 

“ But I had set my heart upon it, and the boat 
belonged to me.” 

“I don’t want to lecture you in such a happy 
moment as this, my boy, but I would like you to 
remember this grand old text, 'He that ruleth his 
own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.’ It 
seems to me that a generous acknowledgment of de- 
feat is a nobler and sweeter thing than a victory.” 

Eobert Alston was silent, and leaned his chin on 
his hand. He had been almost angry, that was the 
truth, but his heart was so deeply engrossed in the 
matter that he was quite sure he could not have 
helped it. And then he recalled the frank, cheerful 
smile that he had seen on Lauriston’s face, and felt 
that he was n’t so much of a hero after all, even if 
he did own a boat. 


KOB’S CHIVALRY. 


165 


CHAPTEK IX. 
roe’s chivalry. 

Kathie ran up to Aunt Euth’s room one morning 
in high spirits, with two letters in her hand. 

“ One for you, mamma, but I can guess what is in 
it. Mine is from Mr. Meredith, and I am quite sure 
that it contains the same announcement.” 

Mrs. Alston laid down her sewing and took up the 
letter with a smile. 

'' Why, it seems that there is quite a party coming, 
— Dr. and Mrs. Markham, and Mrs. Havens — ” 
And, best of all, Mr. Meredith ! Here ’s a mes- 
sage that I must give Eob. Mr. Meredith was very 
sorry that they did not invite 'him to the boat-race, 
and hopes that they will get one up for his especial 
benefit.” 

He will like that,” said Aunt Euth. 

“ I must answer this note immediately,” exclaimed 
IMrs. Alston. They wish to come next week, and 
we shall be glad to have them.” 


166 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


'"I ’ll answer mine, and take them down to the 
office,” Kathie replied ; but first she went to look for 
Kob. 

“Did you tell him just what time we boys 
made ? ” he asked, “ though we have beaten it since 
by seven minutes. Hooray ! What fun it will be ! 
Tell him to hurry down on the lightning express.” 

Before she had ended, Eob came rushing in with 
another message. When the letters were done she 
started out again and mounted Hero, that she had 
left fastened to the hitching-post. She had become 
quite a famous little horsewoman. 

An hour before she had brought with her letters 
one for Grandmother Morrison that had come with 
the English mail. She saw that there was quite a 
commotion in the little cottage, and halted, wonder- 
ing if she had been the bearer of bad news. 

The old lady wiped her eyes with her checked apron. 
“ 0 Miss Kathie ! ” she said, and then she stopped. 

Kathie saw that there was some trouble, and at the 
first moment did not know what to answer; but pres- 
ently said, in her soft voice, which was comfort itself, 
“ I am sorry to see you so grieved. Can I help you 
in any way ? ” 


ROB'S CHIVALRY. 


167 


'‘0 no, Miss Kathie, thanking you a thousand 
times. It ’s bad news, sure enough, and something 
in it that would* be pleasant if it came in any other 
way. The letter is from my son William. He ’s 
been very unfortunate.” 

Kathie looked the question she was too delicate to 
ask. 

You know that I told you about his grandfather’s 
taking him when we came to America, — for we had 
such a host of little ones then, and now there ’s only 
Hugh and my daughter at the West. Well, 
William ’s had very hard times, losses and poor crops, 
and now his wife has died. He has sold the farm 
and coming to America.” 

“ It will be nice to see him.” 

Yes, though he was only twelve when we came 
away, and now he ’s eight-and-thirty. He married a 
neighbor’s daughter ; I stood for the little one at her 
christening, and her mother was my bridesmaid, so I 
’ve always had a motherly feeling towards her. And 
now the poor thing is dead, though she was ailing a 
long while. There ’s a little girl left.” 

Is there ? ” and Kathie was deeply interested. 

How old is she ? ” 


168 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Somewhere about ten. I want to see the poor 
child for its mother’s sake, though it ’s a sad, sad 
journey. But nearly all our relatives there are dead, 
and William feels as if he could n’t stay.” 

“ Wlien will they come ? ” 

" Why, it ’s about three weeks since this letter was 
written, and he said he should start soon, so we need 
not answer it. They ’ll be here in a week or two. 
0 Miss Kathie, I am thankful that we are so com- 
fortable and can take them in.” 

Kathie was glad too, and after a few words of com- 
fort went her way rather more thoughtfully, with a 
picture of the little motherless girl in her mind. 
After her return home she related the incident to her 
mother and Aunt Euth, and Mrs. Alston presently 
went down to the cottage to comfort old Mrs. Morri- 
son. 

Vacation was passing off splendidly, though Eob 
wdshed that he could make every day a week long. 
The boat-clubs soon filled up, and the rowers im- 
proved so rapidly that Mr. Langdon and Mr. Conover 
did become honorary members, though they held the 
position of presidents, and any disputed ]3oint was 
referred to them. They liad thought crossing the 


BOB’S CHIVALRY. 


169 


lake in twelve minutes quite a brilliant success at 
first, but the lonas had made eight minutes’ time on 
one occasion, of which they were justly proud. 

There had been considerable jealousy and disap- 
pointment among the rejected applicants, for there 
was quite a number refused. Luther Simonds and 
some of his party felt disposed to resent it, and were 
inclined to make a row whenever they could. Luther 
would fain have owned a boat, but they lived a long- 
distance from either lake or river, and Mr. Simonds, 
indulgent on many points, refused his son in this 
very decidedly. The boy’s next step was to become 
a member of either club, but here he was refused 
again, though he was really too indolent to be of the 
slightest service in such a capacity. 

He had felt rather vexed with Eob for his early 
defections, and he took a peculiar delight in teasing 
him. Eob’s quick temper would flare up on the 
slightest provocation, while Luther possessed one of 
those lazy and ingeniously exasperating natures, that, 
under a mask of coolness, can say and do anything 
covertly stinging. 

]\Ir. Langdon had long before purchased Mr. Cono- 
ver’s share of the Titan, but in some fashion of 


170 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


school-boy gossip the first arrangement came to Lu- 
ther’s ears. 

“ Why did n’t you let me know there was a share 
going a-begging ? ” he asked of Eoh one day. “ I 
could have bought that out of my own pocket-money, 
no thanks to father. It was a real mean trick, Alston, 
when you knew how much I wanted it. Why did 
n’t you tell me ? ” 

I guess the Nereids would n’t consider such a 
land-lubber much of an addition to their crew,” 
returned Kob, enjoying the hit he was making. 

Luther’s dark, heavy face flushed. 

“ What are you ? ” he retorted, rather angrily. 

Kobert Alston, not at your service ” ; and the boy 
made a mocking bow. 

“You put on altogether too many airs, Alston,” 
was the rejoinder, “ for a fellow who can never spend 
a cent without asking his mother and uncles and old- 
maid aunts.” 

“ Say that again if you dare ! ” and Eob’s face was 
in a blaze. 

“ 0, who ’s afraid f Yes, T dare say it. Poor little 
sonny, who can’t be trusted out of sight with a penny ! 
Does your mother count your money every night ? 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


171 


and you know there ’s but precious little of it yours. 
Were n’t you poor enough before your uncle came 
back ? Your mother had to sew for the neighbors, 
and now you act as if you owned all Silver Lake ; 
but you don’t.” 

Eob's blood had come up to fire heat. Was his 
mother any the less a lady because she had once 
been poor ? 

“ Hold your tongue, — will you ? ” he exclaimed, 
savagely. 

‘^0, I have n’t been tutored into obedience by 
an old-maid aunt — ” 

It was this sneer that had roused Eob a moment 
before. Like a flash his hand crossed Simonds’s face 
with all the force the resentful nerves and muscles 
could bring to bear upon it. 

Luther Simonds uttered a cry of rage and pain, 
and the next instant had grappled Eob. He was 
larger and older, but every pulse in Eob’s body was 
wrought up to a fierce state of excitement that gave 
him strength. Dick and Charlie Darrell ran to the 
rescue. 

Eob twisted himself out of his adversary’s hands 
and dealt blows right and left. 


172 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


"What is it all about?” asked Dick. "Are you 
crazy ? ” 

Luther was out of breath, and paused. He was 
not quite sure that he should come off conqueror, 
and so wisely hesitated, eying Eob with sullen pas- 
sion. 

"That ’s enough,” exclaimed Dick, linking his 
hand within Eob’s arm. " You are a big bully, 
Simonds, and ought to be ashamed of yourself.” 

" He struck the first blow ! ” 

"And I ’ll do it again,” announced Eob, with a 
tigerish gleam out of the eyes. " I won’t take 
insults from you or any other fellow. Say what 
you dare about me, but learn to let others alone, 
or I ’ll make you.” 

With that Eob turned away, impelled by the 
pressure upon his arm. He had received a hard 
blow just under the eye, and his cheek was swell- 
ing rapidly. 

"What was the row?” asked Charlie Darrell. 
" How peppery you are, Eob ! ” 

"He insulted me. I ’ll teach him to let my 
mother alone, anyhow.” 

Eob went down to the shore- edge, and, dipping 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


173 

his handkerchief in the water, began to bathe his 
forehead, for his head was aching. He would say 
nothing further about the cause of the quarrel, and 
presently started for home. 

Aunt Euth was sitting on the porch, reading, but 
she started at Kathie’s exclamation. “ 0, have you 
fallen, or what has happened ? ” she asked, in 
alarm. 

“Nothing much.” 

“ But your face is dreadfully swollen, and your 
eye nearly closed ! Come up stairs and let me 
bathe it.” 

Eob thought, looking out of his one eye, that 
Aunt Euth was very pretty in her white dress, 
with a knot of blue ribbon at her throat, and a 
spray of drooping fuschias in her hair. She cer- 
tainly was not antiquated, and he felt angrier than 
ever at Lu Simonds. 

“Was it an accident?” Aunt Euth questioned, in 
the softest of voices. * 

“ No,” said Eob, honestly ; “ one of the boys gave 
me some impudence, and we had a — a — ” 

“ Scrimmage,” appended Kathie, viewing the side 
of the face that looked like a caricature. 


174 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“That was just it”; and he smiled out of one 
corner of his mouth. 

“ I ’m sorry,” Aunt Paith returned, gravely. 

“ You would n’t blame me if you knew the whole 
story. I can’t tell it to you now, for my head is 
aching fearfully.” 

She put a cold-water bandage on his face and tied 
it tightly ; then she bathed his liead, and made him 
lie on the lounge. Her fingers were so soft, her 
movements so graceful and quiet, her brow calm 
and smooth, and in her cheeks a most delicate pink. 
He could count up half a dozen old maids in the 
village who were wrinkled, sallow, sharp-nosed, and 
had lost their teeth ; but Aunt Euth would never 
look like these, he felt sure. Yet he hated to have 
any one call her that ! 

He remembered, when he was sick, that she had 
been most kind and patient. And in all that old life, 
when she was lame and poor, and had to sew through 
the weary days, no one had ever heard a complaint. 
She could knit mittens and mend ball-covers, help 
him through hard sums and the analytical sentences 
in grammar that used to puzzle him so, and when he 
and Fred, noisy wretches that they were, used to 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


175 ' 


make racket enough to raise the roof of the house, 
she never said a word about headache, though he 
knew from the pale face and tired eyes that it must 
have ached often. She was sweet and good and 
lovable, and pretty too, so all the hoy’s innate 
chivalry was aroused. 

By and by the thumping in his temple was rather 
less suggestive of a sledge-hammer, and the burning 
cheek began to grow cooler. He turned a little on 
the pillow. 

What would you like to have, Eob ? ” she asked, 
softly. 

'‘Nothing. Aunt Euth — ” 

“ Well ? ” 

“Don’t you mean ever to get married?” 

It was out now, though Eob’s face burned with a 
sense of shame, as if he had no right to ask such a 
question. 

Kathie glanced up with a smile, but Aunt Euth 
turned scarlet to the edge of her hair. 

“ I ’m sorry,” he went on, penitently, with a touch 
of boyish delicacy. 

“ That ’s nothing,” she returned, gayly. “ But why, 
— are you becoming tired of me ? ” 


176 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ 0 no ; don’t imagine that,” he said, earnestly. 

“ How queer ! ” exclaimed Kathie. “ Why, I never 
thought of Aunt Euth’s being married ! ” 

No, Eoh, I fancy that I never shall be. Do you 
suppose that you shall get ashamed of an old-maid 
aunt?” She gave him the sweetest smile in the 
world. 

'"But why should anybody call you that? You 
won’t be - cross and prying and queer-looking like 
Miss Niles.” 

“ No, I shall never be squint-eyed, nor have a long 
nose and chin, but I shall grow old and wrinkled, 
and maybe a little sharp in the temper, or sus- 
piciously neat ” ; and she turned her bright, tender 
face toward him. "Every year that takes you for- 
ward to manhood will bring me nearer the verge of 
an old woman. Even if I were married that would 
stin be the case.” 

"But it seems so different then.” 

" If I keep myself young in heart, fresh in faith 
and hope, gracious in temper, and still feel an interest 
in those around me, shall I make a less pleasant 
companion, Eob?” 

"No,” he replied, slowly. 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


177 


" What has put all this into your head just now? ” 

“ I heard somebody sneered at,” he said, evasively. 

Aunt Euth colored a little. “It is one of the 
penalties that we must pay,” she returned. “ Well- 
bred people never make invidious distinctions. 
There is generally some good reason why a woman 
does not marry.” 

“ But you are not old, and I am sure you are 
pretty — ” 

“ Shall you love me less, my dear Eob ? ” 

“ No, indeed ” ; and yet a wistful and not quite sat- 
isfied look crossed his face. 

“ Eob,” Aunt Euth began, laying her soft hand on 
his forehead, “ I believe I shall tell you a story. 
Before we lost our fortune I became acquainted with 
a gentleman that I admired very much, and after 
a while we were engaged. The house in which your 
mother’s money and my own was invested failed, 
and then your father died. Our marriage was post- 
poned for some time and in the mean while I met 
with my accident. My lover was at the South then, 
and knowing that I must be an invalid, and perhaps 
a cripple all my life, I wrote to him releasing him 
from all promises. The long letter of explanations I 
12 


178 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


sent by a mutual friend, and though he seemed to 
regret it deeply, he assented to my views. Some 
time after he married my friend.” 

“ 0,” exclaimed Kathie, “ that was too bad ! Did 
n’t you feel sorry. Aunt Euth ? ” 

“ My dear, I thought it quite right. She was p 
very sweet and amiable woman, and since there was 
no prospect of my ever making him happy, why 
should I condemn him to a homeless and rather 
solitary life ? ” 

“ But you are well now, and it seems hard,” said 
Eob, much dissatisfied with the ending. 

“ There was a greater prospect of my dying at that 
time, however; and, to do him justice, I think he 
would have waited years. Considering my case 
hopeless, I was too proud to ask it of any man. You. 
being children, can hardly understand the pecuJiar 
feeling.” 

Kathie came and kissed her tenderly. ‘‘1 ’in 
sorry,” she said ; “ and yet we are all glad to have 
you, and I do believe that we are very happy.” 

“ I ’m glad that you could have been married,” 
Eob exclaimed, with grim satisfaction. 

My dear boy, there are very few people but that 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


179 


might have been married in some fashion, had they 
chosen. And I hope that if you are ever tempted to 
sneer at single women, you will remember the good 
and useful lives many of them lead. Even ]\Iiss 
Niles, queer as she may be in some things, is most 
kind and generous in sickness, and more than once 
she has cared for the homeless and needy.” 

“ You always see good in everybody.” 

“ Because I think nearly every one has some re- 
deeming traits. And then we can never understand 
all the trials and difficulties to which some people 
may have been subjected.” 

“ That is very true,” Kathie replied, thoughtfully. 

Eob fell into a revery, and finally went to sleep, 
being waked at last by the return of his mother and 
his uncle. 

“ What ’s the matter here ? ” she asked, a little 
amazed. 

Eob rubbed his eyes and glanced around, then put 
his hand up to his bruised cheek. 

“ I have been in a row,” the boy answered, trying 
to laugh ; “ but I guess I ’m not much hurt. I ’ll 
liave to tell you about it. Uncle Eobert, but I don’t 
believe the rest could understand it.” 


180 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


"'Very well.” 

Mrs. Alston undid the bandage. The swelling had 
gone down considerably, and he could open his eye, 
but there was likely to be an ugly mark. 

“ That will get well after a while,” he said, gayly. 
Boys are always in some trouble,” Mrs. Alston 
answered, rather sadly. “ It was a bad blow.” 

“ I gave one as hard in return, and that ’s my con- 
solation,” was the energetic answer. 

After supper Bob and his uncle walked up and 
down the lawn, and he told the story very fairly. 

“ But I was furious,” he said. “ I felt for a minute 
as if I could have half killed him ! ” 

And that was a rather wild indulgence of temper. 
I cannot say that I admire fighting of any kind, and 
yet I shall not sermonize you. If the satisfaction 
pays for the suffering, that is the only thing neces- 
sary at present.” 

'' It was awful mean in Simonds, but it ’s just 
like him. And then to talk about mamma ! ” 

‘‘ It was very trying, and I hope he has been taught 
a lesson, if his brain is sufficiently receptive. And 
tliougli it is a touch of the old clannish spirit, I always 
like to see a boy or a man stand up for his own 
family.” 


ROB’S CHIVALRY. 


181 


Eob found that he was not blamed very deeply, 
and by the next morning he had only a black eye as 
a reminder. But the affair had taught him more 
than one lesson, and streiigtliened his chivalrous re- 
spect for a class of women that boys are apt to hold 
in light esteem. 


182 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTEE X. 

PLEASURES AND PAINS. 

Kathie counted the intervening days with an 
anxious heart, and prayed fervently for fair weatlier. 
The flower-beds were overlooked, the house put in 
order, and then they waited for the visitors. The day 
was clear, and everything went well. Uncle Eobert 
drove down to the station in the large carriage, and 
brought it back full. 

Kathie was on the steps, ready for the first fond 
clasp. Mrs. Alston and Aunt Euth smiled a wel- 
come before a word was spoken. 

Upon my word ! ” exclaimed the doctor, survey- 
ing Aunt Euth from head to feet. “ Why, you are 
plump and rosy, and look ten years younger ! How 
about the dancing, hey ? You have a nice green.” 

0, she can play croquet,” announced Kathie, 
" and take rambles in the woods. We have lovely 
times.” 

Mrs. Markham and Mrs. Havens were scarcely 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


183 


done kissing her when Mr. Meredith took absolute 
possession and asked her a dozen questions in one 
breath. Then the procession was marshalled into 
the library, and from thence to their own rooms to 
refresh themselves after their warm and fatiguing 
journey. 

The doctor was the first one down. His stay 
was brief, he said, so Kathie must begin with the 
wonders at once. Could n’t they take a sniff of the 
lake breeze ? 

“ Why, it ’s just here ” ; and Kathie led the way. 

“ I heard that you had regattas, and all that ! 
Bands of music and crowds of spectators, I sup- 
pose ? ” and he glanced quizzically at her. 

“ Not much music except Mr. Morrison’s flute, but 
we have delightful times rowing and going for lilies.” 

“ I dare say you will want to come back and spend 
next winter with me. You can’t see anybody here.” 

“ I have n’t been very lonesome,” she replied, 
archly. 

I suppose you row and fish, and are learning to 
shoot a little, like strong-minded young women ? ” 

I can row a little, but I don’t like to fish, — it 
seems cruel to me, and — ” 


184 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


" You are afraid of a gun,” said the doctor, laugh- 
ing. 

" That is just it ” ; and Kathie’s cheeks were rosier 
than ever. " But then I can ride.” 

“ Yes, I believe I heard about the pony. He ’s a 
fine little fellow. "So they have n’t made a fine 
young lady of you yet ? ” and he studied her with 
his sharp gray eyes. “ You ’ll have a long and pleas- 
ant childhood, little one.” 

Then he took a view of the grand old trees op- 
posite, and the placid, silvery waters, di-awing long, 
invigorating breaths, for the scene was so lovely, the 
air so fragrant with the coolness of the lake and the 
spicy odor of the trees. 

Eob, who had been seized with a fit of boyish 
bashfulness and strayed off, suddenly came to light 
under a clump of acacia-trees. Kathie introduced 
liim very gracefully, and in a few moments he was 
chatting with ease and freedom. He had improved a 
good deal in the past year. Contact with one of his 
own sex who was a perfect gentleman, albeit much 
his senior, had taken off the rough edges. He used 
to imagine that many of these polite and refined 
ways looked so like a girl ; and, for himselff he had a 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


185 


horror of anything girlish. But Mr. Meredith was 
the only one of the party that he thought he should 
feel at all interested in, and he had a fancy that his 
first moments would be devoted to Kathie. 

Dr. Markham was shrewd, pleasant, and so used 
to everybody that he knew how to attract at once. 
Eob’s frank, manly face and air pleased him won- 
derfully, for he was the very embodiment of a big, 
healthy, happy boy ; and the doctor’s great hobby was 
the wholesome and natural development of children, 
if one desired good, sound, sensible men and women. 
Kathie just suited him. 

They took a ramble to the barn and stables, and 
Eob’s turn-pole and a few other gymnastic arrange- 
ments were inspected. 

“ What kind of treatment do you call this ? ” said 
a gay, mellow voice. “ Dr. Markham, there ’ll be 
coffee and pistols for two. I cannot stand being 
superseded in this fashion. Kathie, here I have 
been wandering around like a lost spirit — ” 

" Thy father’s spirit, doomed to wander — ” ex- 
claimed Eob, with a merry twinkle of the eye, as 
he shook hands cordially. 

“ Exactly. I took a run down to the boat-house, 


186 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


and not finding you perched on the rocky promon- 
tory, concluded that, like another bold mariner, you 
had been ‘promiscuously drownded.’ Instead of 
which. Dr. Markham has beguiled you. He ’s a 
dangerous man, and I give due notice that I am not 
to be quietly crowded out of my place.” 

Eob and Kathie laughed. 

“Come, come,” returned Dr. Markham, “that ’s 
pretty cool ; just as if Kathie here had not been 
adopted into the bosom of my family. We must 
look into your claims, young sir ! ” 

“ Y )u seo it ’s coming to pistols,” said Mr. Mere- 
dith, with a nod that w^as at once confidential and 
comic, and he assumed an air of resignation that was 
truly ludicrous. 

“ Coffee first,” growled the doctor, “ and that wiU 
not be until to-morrow morning.” 

Just then Uncle Eobert joined them, and Kathie, 
feeling that she might be needed in the house, left 
the merry group. Mrs. Havens had changed her 
travelling-dress for one of cool lawn, and was sitting 
on the porch with Aunt Euth. 

“ This is the loveliest little nest in the world,” she 
said. “ I don’t wonder that you were anxious to get 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


187 


back to it, though I suppose that it is not quite 
as charming in winter.” 

“ But there was splendid skating on the lake, and 
sleigh -riding — ” 

And what was best of all to you, — mamma,” 
Mrs. Havens exclaimed with a smile, filling Kathie’s 
pause. 

There was a bright, tender flush on the little 
girl’s cheek. 

Then they talked of the flowers, and took a walk 
around the lawn. Mrs. Havens was delighted with 
the improvement in Aunt Kuth; indeed, she vras 
hardly noticeably lame, and looked like quite another 
person from the pale invalid who had spent a week 
or so in New York about a year ago. 

Dr. Markham joined them presently, and the bell 
rang for supper. 

“ You ’ll have to send Freddy up in the tower 
with it,” said Kathie to Hannah, for part of them 
are down at the lake.” 

So Freddy made a tremendous signal, much to his 
delight, but Mr. Meredith puzzled him a little by 
asking him who was keeper of the lighthouse, and 
if that was the fog -bell, also if he knew ^,11 the 
dangerous reefs along the coast ? 


188 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ He ought to know a dangerous rock, for he fell 
off of it last summer,” laughed Kob ; “ and he has 
been a long distance below the lake, all alone.” 

There was a deal of interest evinced in the adven- 
ture, and Freddy took it very complacently. 

“ I wonder that you were not drowned,” said Mrs. 
Havens. 

0, 1 stayed in the boat,” was the reply, with grave 
composure. 

They had a great frolic out on the lawn after 
supper. Kathie tried to induct Dr. Markham into 
the mysteries of playing croquet, but he made 
tremendous work with the balls, and finally declared 
that the business was not at all in his line, and that 
he was too old to be capering around at such a rate, 
so he sat down on the porch and had a long talk 
with Aunt Euth. 

Eob and Mr. Meredith took up the subject that 
supper had interrupted, — boating. Like aE other 
boys he could think of only one thing, and now this 
was all-absorbing. He detailed their little races and 
the time they had made, and in turn Mr. Meredith 
told about some real regattas in which he had par> 
ticipated. 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


189 


They sat there in the starlight a long while, very 
happy indeed. Dr. Markham had taken one of 
Kathie’s little hands a prisoner, and after he was 
through with Aunt Euth began to question her as to 
what she had been doing and studying all summer. 

“ Flowers and birds the most,” she said, with a 
merry laugh, “ and a little music.” 

“ I suppose the flowers means that you know how 
to arrange a bouquet or a dish full in the most artistic 
manner ? ” 

“ No, rather more than that. Aunt Euth and I 
have been studying soils, and different modes of 
treatment, and we have made some quite odd ex- 
periments.” 

How to turn white roses blue, for instance ? ” 

"" No, not that exactly, but we made the red ones a 
great deal, darker, and we have managed to keep our 
pansies large and velvety, and have raised quantities 
of little slips.” 

" Your gardening has done some good, then, beside 
bringing roses to your cheeks. You and Miss Con- 
over deserve a great deal of credit. What about 
the birds ? ” 

0, we have been studying them too, and they are 


190 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


very quaint, cunning little people. There are Line- 
birds and martins, wrens and robins of all kinds, and 
they have nests around everywhere. Then we Lave 
Baltimore orioles, cuckoos, thrushes, — ” 

“ And a parrot,” said Aunt Kuth, “ which seems to 
be the greatest trouble of all.” 

An unmitigated nuisance ! ” 

But it is Freddy’s,” was Kathie’s soft rejoinder. 

Dr. Markham told her some very curious and 
entertaining bird-stories, and presently they began 
to separate for the night. She had only a word 
with Mr. Meredith, but Eob was in high spirits. 

“ He ’s just as jolly as he can be, and knows about 
all kinds of boys’ frolics and fun ! Best of all, Ka- 
thie, he has promised to go out on our tour ! Won’t 
that be royal ? ” 

“ O, I wish I could go too ! ” Kathie said, longingly. 

“Well, you can’t ; it ’s a boys’ party, and there ’s 
no room for girls.” 

Kathie began to think that there was n’t much 
room for her, sure enough. The next morning Eob, 
Mr. Meredith, and Dick Grayson went off boating 
and fishing, and did not return until three, when Bob 
flourished his long string of fish in great triumph. 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


191 


Kathie did not mind so very much, to be sure, 
for Dr. and Mrs. Markham were to leave early the 
next morning, and she had spent a very pleasant day 
entertaining them ; but then in the evening Eob 
walked over to the Darrells’ with him, and she saw 
no more of Mr. Meredith until he ran down the 
following morning to say good by to his aunt and 
uncle. Eob marched him off somewhere again, and 
the two did not come home to dinner. 

So Kathie felt rather lonesome in the afternoon. 
The three ladies sat talking about old times and 
subjects quite beyond her comprehension. Uncle 
Eobert had gone out on a little business, and Freddy 
was building a cave, with Jamie Morrison to help. 

“ 0,” she thought to herself, “ I wonder if Mrs. 
Morrison’s little granddaughter has come ? I will go 
down and see. Mr. Morrison said yesterday that he 
expected them.” 

So, donning her sea-side, she walked slowly to the 
cottage. There was no one in the wide kitchen, and 
the other windows were darkened ; so Kathie did not 
like to intrude. She seated herself under a great elm 
and began pulling clover-tops to pieces. 

Why was she not real bright-hearted and happy > 


192 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


She had been counting on this visit, and Dr. Mark- 
ham, with all his sharp, teasing ways, had been very 
kind and pleasant ; and Mrs. Markham loved her 
almost like a mother. Did she feel so lonesome 
because they were gone ? There was Mrs. Havens 
left, and — 

Yes, it was something back of this. There was 
Mr. Meredith, but Eob seemed to have crowded 
her out of her place. They would go away for a 
week, perhaps, and take Uncle Eobert. Of course 
they would have a splendid time, and she must 
stay home. 

Kathie had shared her uncle’s pleasures so much 
that it was something of a trial to be put aside 
for Eob. She almost wished she were a boy, and 
thought it quite hard not to be counted in their 
enjoyments. Did Mr. Meredith care for her as 
much as he used to in New York ? 

Was she growing selhsh and jealous ? Why 
should n’t Eob be happy and have a good time ? 
and why should not Mr. Meredith love him, — or at 
least like him very much, for love did n’t seem to 
be just the term to apply to a great boy ? She had 
enjoyed a good many pleasures first and last, and 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


193 


here she was grudging Eob his share, and a delight- 
ful friend also. It certainly was not very kind or 
sisterly. 

Kathie dropped the clover blossoms and covered 
her face with her hands. She felt pained and 
humiliated. She had always considered a jealous, 
grudging spirit most mean and uncomfortable, and 
here she was indulging in it. With so many pleas- 
ures on every hand, she could still long for that 
bestowed upon another ! 

“ No, I will not,” she said, firmly, to herself. “ It 
is pleasant to have Mr. Meredith like Eob, and he 
needs to be made happy as well as any one else. 
I won’t wish for anything that he has, and I ’ll 
try to be satisfied and happy with my own enjoy- 
ments.” 

Up in the sky dwelt her heavenly Father, who had 
sent her Uncle Eobert and one pleasure after another. 
First of all she must show her gratitude to him by 
not coveting, but rather rejoicing in, the good fortune 
of others. 

The sweet face cleared up like the sky after a 
shower. She said a bit of a prayer softly to herself, 
and then she caught a glimpse of Mrs. Morrison, 


13 


194 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD- 


with her baby in her arms, opening the sitting-room 
window. 

“ 0 Miss Kathie ! ” 

The child rose and went forward. 

“ I have some news for yon, dear. My brother-in- 
law and his daughter came about an hour ago. 
Hugh ’s away with Mr. Conover, and we were not 
expecting him — William, I mean — until the late 
train, if he came at all. Please walk in. Baby is 
ever so much better.” 

The little one had been quite ill, and still had a 
wan, colorless look. She stretched out her hands to 
Kathie, of whom she was very fond. 

0 Miss Kathie, Ethel is nearly as large as you 
are, and such a sweet face, not exactly pretty, but 
there ’s something very winsome in it ; and her hair 
is - light and soft, only it does n’t curl like yours. 
The poor motherless thing in her black dress went 
to my heart at once.” 

“ I ’m glad she has come,” Kathie replied, with 
interest. “And that you — like her,” she added, 
more timidly. 

“ Yes. I can’t quite explain it, IMiss Kathie, but 
there are some children that one does n’t take to. 


PLEASUEES AND PAINS 


195 


although no one would refuse a motherless child 
sympathy. I shall like to have her very much, and 
she ’s fond of babies. She was tired, so grandmother 
thought that she ’d better lie down awhile. I want 
you to see her.” 

" And I want to,” answered Kathie, warmly. 

“ William does n’t look much like Hugh. He ’s 
larger and fairer, and his beard is almost red, but he 
has his mother’s soft blue eyes. I can’t tell you how 
surprised we were ! I don’t believe grandmother 
would have known him, though, if we had not been 
expecting him.” 

Kathie went on playing with the baby, but she 
was thinking of little motherless Ethel. 

When will your uncle be home. Miss Kathie ? ” 

"Hot until seven, I believe.” 

“ Their boxes are still at the station. Now if 
Hugh happened to stop there it would save him 
another drive. Have your visitors gone ? ” 

“ Not all. Mrs. Havens and Mr. Meredith are 
going to stay a week or two.” 

“ What nice times you have. Miss Kathie, with so 
many delightful friends ! but there is n’t any one in 
the world who deserves it more.” 


196 


KATHIFS SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ 0 Mrs. Morrison, I ’m not always good, or as 
grateful as I should be, I ’m afraid,” she answered, a 
little remorsefully. 

“ But you are always making others happy, and it 
seems to me that is the highest gratitude.” 

Kathie was silent. Latterly it seemed to her that 
she had not tried much, but just allowed events to 
take' their own course. Yes, she did need a little 
rousing. 

Presently she turned to go, promising to be in 
again to-morrow. 

I expect grandmother will take to Ethel wonder- 
fully. Is n’t it a pretty name. Miss Kathie ? ” 

Kathie quite agreed there ; and it seemed the more 
interesting to have a name that was entirely new. 

So she went home in better spirits, helped Hannah 
pick the berries for tea, and whipped the cream for 
the cakes. Just then Mr. Meredith and Eob, and Mr. 
Langdon, who had been their companion for the day, 
came sauntering up the path. 

They had to wash and dress, and were not down 
until the bell rang. By this time Uncle Eobert had 
arrived. 

Kathie listened with great interest to Eob’s adven- 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


197 


tures. He was in the most extravagant spirits, 
rather inclined to be boisterous, and quite as large 
as anybody. Uncle Eobert tried to check his exu- 
berance, but did not succeed very well. 

Mr. Langdon begged for some music. Aunt Euth 
was trying to regain her olden skill, and Kathie had 
hardly gone far enough to play for company. She 
wished in her heart that Miss Jessie was here. Mr. 
Meredith was lounging on the sofa, quite tired with 
liis day’s exploits. 

Then Kathie remembered that Mrs. Havens played 
beautifully, so she petitioned, in a half-timid but very 
graceful fashion. 

“ What kind of music would you prefer ? ” she asked. 

“ 0, songs,” exclaimed Mr. Langdon ; Miss Ka- 
thie sings, I know, for I have heard her.” 

“ I cannot give you anything very fine or elabo- 
rate without the music, but I have hosts of old- 
fashioned songs in my memory.” 

“And they are just what I hke. 

“ Then let us have more than one voice. It ’s 
high time you gentlemen began to be entertaining.” 

“ Come, Meredith, shake off your laziness and Usa 
like the lark.” 


198 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


''My dear fellow, I ’m stiff in every joint, and 
have an inherited love for laziness. I 11 sing 
here.” 

So they tried Annie Laurie, Mary of Argyle, 
and many others, interspersing the quaint, sweet 
ballads of olden days with those of more modern 
date. The gentlemen’s voices harmonized finely, and 
4unt Euth’s was very sweet. Koh listened until he 
fell asleep. 

" I am very, very much obliged,” said Mr. Lang- 
don, as he was bidding them good night. " You are 
so charming over here that you may expect to see 
me quite often.” 

" Kathie,” Mr. Meredith began, after Eob had 
been roused and sent to bed, " I think you are 
quite neglecting me. Did Dr. Markham carry off 
every scrap of your heart ? ” 

She laughed a little. 

" Come over here and give an account of yourself.” 

She crossed to the corner of the sofa and seated 
herself on an ottoman. 

" ' Are you mad at me ? ’ as the children say.” 

" Why, no ! ” and an amused light shone in her 
eyes. 


PLEASURES AND PAINS. 


199 


"Well, then, why are you making yourself cold 
and stately, like some consequential young woman ? 
Why did n’t you come and sit by me ever so long 
ago when I beckoned to you ? ” 

She colored a little. Eob had been over in the 
corner, and she was afraid it would look like crowd- 
ing in. 

" Confess ! ” and he held up the dimpled chin. 

" I think it is the other way, Mr. Meredith,” she 
said, smilingly ; " you have had Mr. Langdon, and — 
Eob, and boating excursions, so I don’t believe that 
you have suffered much from neglect.’* 

He laughed gayly. " But that does n’t excuse you 
for to-night,” he said. 

" I am glad to see Eob like you so much,” she 
repEed ; " and he seemed so happy with you — ” 

She could not have put it in a more delicate 
fashion ; but it was simple truth, and not said for 
effect. She had been thinking over a little of Uncle 
Eobert’s counsel concerning her brother, and resolved 
to do her duty cheerfully, even if compelled to re- 
nounce her own pleasure. 

" My dear child, T understand,” he said, in a deep, 
tender voice, in which there was not a tinge of hadi- 


200 


KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


nage ; “ but I am not willing to lose my little friend ; 
and I think I have some claim.” 

Her soft, lustrous eyes met his with their shy, 
girlish glance. What a sweet woman she would 
make some day, if the world did not spoil her ! 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


201 


CHAPTEK XI. 

A PLEASURE PARTY. 

What shall we do to-day ? ” asked Eob, hang- 
ing round on the balcony, where Mr. Meredith was 
smoking. 

“ I have a fancy that it means to rain by and 
by, and I have dissipated sufficiently to last me 
for a day or two, so I think I shall take it easy. 
Kathie ! ” 

She was going slowly over an exercise, though, 
she had finished her hour’s practice. She had begun 
the day with one of those good and comforting talks 
she and Uncle Eobert enjoyed now and then, and 
which always strengthened her in following out any 
resolve. 

Well ? ” she answered, cheerfully. 

“ If this is going to be a gray day, would n’t it be 
nice to have Miss Jessie here ? ” 

0, delightful ! ” and she ran out to him. 

Suppose we drive over, then ? ” 


202 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“Very well.” 

Eob jerked off a long spray of honeysuckle. That 
arrangement did not appear at all entertaining 
to him. 

“ I ’ll walk down to the stable wliile I finish my 
cigar. Can you be ready in five minutes.” 

“ 0 yes.” 

She felt as if she wanted to say something to Eob, 
who was kicking his toe against the stepping-stone, 
but she could not think of anything tliat would 
chime with his disappointed mood and not rufile him, 
so she was silent. 

“ I don’t see why they want to be forever hanging 
round after girls ! ” Eob grumbled, in supreme con- 
tempt, vexed by the defection. “ Just as a fellow 
is ready to have some fun, a girl is always dragged 
in. Miss Jessie ’s good enough, but between the 
two they ’ll keep him cooped up in the library or 
some place, and it ’s too bad ! I don’t believe it will 
rain, either !” 

Kathie came down fresh and dainty in her white 
dress and simple hat. The morning was very pleas- 
ant even if it was gray, and the drive lovely. 

Miss Jessie received them very cordially, though 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


203 


she said she was afraid that they did not deserve it. 
What were they doing all day yesterday ? 

“ Kathie, like the small angel that she is, stayed at 
home contented. We ^ hoys’ were off on a cruise.” 

Kathie, I think we ought to be jealous,” said 
Miss Jessie. 

Kathie had an instinctive feeling that Miss Jessie 
possessed the right so to do, hut her brief spasm was 
over. 

« Why don’t they ask us to go out boating, and all 
that ? And you are going to have a grand excursion 
all by yourselves, which is very selfish, you must 
admit.” 

“Indeed, I wish you would go. I dare say there 
’ll be hours in which we shall long for a civilized face. 
Kathie, can’t you manage it some way ?” 

“We might take a hammock along, and sleep in 
that,” said Miss Jessie, with a good-natured laugh. 

Mr. Meredith told his errand, and, while he was 
coaxing, Kathie slipped out to see grandmother and 
Mrs. Darrell. Charlie was building a trellis for a 
running rose, and Kathie made him promise to come 
over to tea. 

Mr. Meredith’s arguments were conclusive, for 


204 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Mis3 Jessie changed her dress and returned with 
them, but she still teased him about his devotion 
to the sea, as she laughingly called it. 

What a pity we are not hoys for a little while 1 ” 
she said, as she was laying off her hat in Kathie’s 
room. “ It would he real charming to go on this 
expedition they are talking about.” 

“I wish we could, hut we can’t*’; and Kathie 
sighed. 

“No, I suppose not.” 

“Just in time,” exclaimed Mr. Meredith, as they 
came down. “ It is beginning to rain.” 

Poor Eob found indoor occupations very duQ, and 
had to come to the girls at last. They played games, 
told riddles, had a very gay time at bhnd-man’s-buff, 
and sang aU the comic songs they could remember. 
Ml’S. Havens was very genial, and did not disdain 
youthful merriment ; in fact, although at middle life, 
she was one of the women who would never grow old. 

The storm set in severely at nightfall. Uncle 
Eobert declared that Miss Jessie and Cliarlie could 
not go home, so they sent for Mr. Langdon, and liad 
some dancing. Finally they insisted that Aunt Euth 
should try, and they managed to have several very 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


205 


amusing quadrilles. Mrs. Havens and Miss Jessie 
became capital friends. 

Tired out at length, they sat down in a circle, and 
had some pleasant conversation until bedtime. 

“ Cedarwood is the most charming place in the 
world,” Mr. Langdon declared with his good night. 

Kathie came down quite early the next morning, 
and found Uncle Eobert alone in the library. 

“ Well, birdie,” he said, kissing her fondly, you 
bear your last night’s dissipation admirably. Wliy, 
you would do for a campaign ! ” 

" Miss Jessie and I both wish that we could take 
one,” she replied. 

“ Where, pansy-eyes ? ” 

“ Out in the woods and do\vn the river, just as you 
are going to do.” 

" Mr. Meredith spoke of it yesterday. I think it 
would be very nice if it could be arranged. We shall 
have to change our plan somewhat.” 

Would you like it ? ” and her lustrous eyes 
beamed with pleasure. 

“ 0, very much. Our party will be larger than I 
thought for in the beginning. We shall take Eob 
and Charlie and Dick, and I fancy that Mr. Langdon 


206 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


would like to join us. If we could get some one to 
watcli over you two girls ! ” . ■ 

“ 0, I believe that Mrs. Havens would,” exclaimed 
Katliie. “ She went out with a party once. If Aunt 
Euth were real strong, or mamma — ” 

“ Mamma thinks she cannot go, for Freddy would 
be such a constant care. I am not sure about Aunt 
Euth. We should stop at hotels or farm-houses, and 
make the journey easy. Mrs. Havens would be capi- 
tal to take charge of you all. We will consider the 
project.” 

Kathie was delighted with this. The matter was 
duly considered and discussed, but when Eob heard 
of it he was sorely disappointed. 

“ It will not be half so nice with a lot of girls ! ” he 
exclaimed, in a tone of vexation. “ They could n’t 
sleep in the woods and rough it, and they always get 
tired, or catch cold, or something. It will spoil all the 
fun!” 

'‘No, I think not. When we find them in the w^ay 
we wiE leave them at a hotel. Some of our amuse- 
ments they would hardly care about. Howeyer, we 
wiE see.” 

In the midst of the excitement, Kathie did not 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


207 


forget little Ethel Morrison. She went over to the 
cottage at her first leisure. 

Ethel sat on a low bench, holding the baby. She 
was very sweet-looking in spite of her awkward black 
dress. Fair, and rather pale, with an abundance of 
light hair tinged with gold, and beautiful deep-blue 
eyes, though otherwise, as her aunt had said, she was 
not pretty. She was so shy that Kathie did not make 
much of an acquaintance. Mrs. Alston had better 
success, for somehow she experienced a warm interest 
in the motherless child. Grandmother Morrison had 
grown very fond of her already. 

Mr. Morrison was a large, fresh-looking man, alto- 
gether unlike his brother, but with a fine genial face 
that quite won Kathie. 

“ He looks like a hero,” she said. 

“ I ’d like to know what he has ever been heroic 
about,” exclaimed Eob. '' Now, Mr. Meredith is my 
idea of a hero. He shows that he has some soul 
and some grit in him, and when he ’s rowing it ’s 
just like a picture ! ” 

Kathie wondered why the old scene with General 
Mackenzie should rush over her so vividly. She really 
loved Mr. Meredith too well to question anything 


208 KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 

that he might do, and yet — some men put duties in 
the place of pleasures. Then Kathie became con- 
fused with a tangled mass of thought, and, for fear 
she might blame ever so slightly, dropped it all. 

“ Yes, Mr. Meredith is splendid, grand ! I ’d like 
to be just such a man ! ” pursued the boy. 

“ You don’t think him better than Uncle Kobert ?” 
Kathie asked, in amaze ; for her uncle was lier ideal, 
and kind of Sir Galahad for kindness, strength, and 
truth. 

''Well, they ’re so different. Uncle Eobert is 
good and noble and all that, and is doing more for us 
than many would, and I don’t want you to think that 
I fail to appreciate him. But there ’s a dash and vim 
about Mr. Meredith, and ” — Eob colored and hesi- 
tated — “ he is n’t quite so strict about some things. 
He does n’t believe that if you smoke a cigar or get 
a little wild that you ’re going straight to destruc- 
tion. He understands that l)oys must be boys, and 
how he did laugh about my fight with Lu Simonds ! 
If he gave me one black eye, I have the comfort of 
knowing that I gave him two ! ” 

"0 Eob!” 

" Yes, the mean, cowardly sneak ! He ’s telling 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


209 


all over that if I were to go to the Academy next 
year he would not. He need n’t trouble himself. I 
’d be sorry to get in such company again.” 

“ But he smokes and swears, and spends a good 
deal of money,” said Kathie ; and Uncle Eobert is 
strict about some of these things, because he knows 
how injurious they are.” 

“ Well, I ’m not speaking up for them. The fact 
is, Kathie, you can’t understand the matter at all. If 
I were a girl, your philosophy might be very good for 
me, but it ’s not exactly the thing for men. We boys 
are different altogether.” 

Kob uttered this in a grand style, as if he supposed 
that it would quite extinguish any girl’s temerity. 

Uncle Eobert is a Christian gentleman,” she said, 
softly. 

“ And don’t you call Mr. Meredith a gentleman, or 
Mr. Langdon ? ” Eob flared up rather fiercely at 
this. 

Yes, they are gentlemen.” 

“ What ’s the difference then ? ” 

" Uncle Eobert does his good and noble deeds 
because he believes them to be right, and if he had 
to make ever so great a sacrifice he would still do 


14 


210 


KATHIK’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


them. Mr. Meredith likes what is easy and pleasant, 
and that suits liim. He is very kind and — ” 

“ You don’t know anything about it, Kathie. Girls 
can't understand 1 ” rejoined Kob, in a positive tone 
that settled the argument. 

Kathie made no reply. It was like treason not to 
approve of everything Mr. Meredith did ; indeed, 
his acts were unquestionable ; it was only his careless 
talking that occasionally pained her. 

Although there was very little said about the tour, 
the matter was under earnest consideration. Mr. 
Meredith took a mysterious journey off somewhere 
and was gone all night. In the mean while there was 
no lack of amusement. Kambles to the woods, rides, 
boating excursions, croquet at home, gardening, and, 
not least of all, music, made the time pass fleetly 
enough. 

Upon Mr. Meredith’s return he held a long consul- 
tation with Uncle Eobert. Then they went up to 
Aunt Euth’s room and had a talk with the ladies, 
Kathie being dismissed. 

After supper that evening Uncle Eobert announced 
the plans. The pleasure tour was to be quite altered, 
and include a large party. 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


2H 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed Eob with a vexatious curl of 
the lip. 

Mr. Meredith laughed. 

“We won’t have any fun at all. Girls can’t sleep 
out of doors on the ground, or take long tramps, and 
I don’t see what you are going to do with them ! ” 

“ This, Eob,” said his uncle, calmly. “ We shall 
go down to Croftsburg by railroad, and at that point 
take a yacht for a week and journey down the river. 
The scenery is veiy wEd, and will be quite new to 
you ; we can sleep on land or water as we like, camp 
out, hunt and fish, have dinners in the woods, and I 
really think you wEl find enough amusement.” 

“ A yacht ! ” was all he could answer in his sur- 
prise. 

“ Yes, and with a regular old salt for captain,” said 
Mr. Meredith. 

Eob could not make another objection. The girls 
dwindled beside a regular sailing vessel and a sea- 
captain. And if anything happened to them it 
would be their own fault, plainly, for wishing to go 
along. 

“ You don’t really mean it ? Who will go and take 
care of us ? ” exclaimed Kathie, breathlessly. 


212 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Mrs. Havens lias promised. Aunt Euth will ac- 
company us also.” 

Katliie clasped her uncle’s hand in delight. 

“ And if mamma could ! ” 

“ There is barely room for four in your cabin,” ex- 
claimed Mr. Meredith, ''and it will not be quite 
like having a large house to ramble over. But I 
think I can promise a good time.” 

" You girls will get sick,” said Eob, loftily. 

" I guess not ” ; and Kathie gave a fearless laugh. 

" Our boat is engaged for next Monday noon, so 
we have all this time to make arrangements. Mrs. 
Havens will see to whatever traps you girls want, 
and I will look after the boys.” 

" And I must go over and announce the fact to 
Charlie and Miss Jessie,” said Mr. Meredith, rising. 

" Hurrah ! It is jolly, and no mistake ! A regular 
yacht, and a whole week of cruising ! ” 

With that Eob executed a double shuffle, a grand 
pirouette, and a lofty somerset, and it seemed a 
little doubtful at first which end he would finally 
settle upon, his head or his heels. 

" Suppose we step into Mr. Grayson’s, Eob,” said 
his uncle. " I want to talk the matter over.” 


A PLEASURE PARTY 


213 


Kob was delighted. Kathie, being left alone, went 
back to Aunt Ruth’s room. 

“ I am so glad that you are going too,” she said, 
clasping her arms around Aunt Ruth’s neck. “ What 
a pleasant party we shall have ! 0 Mrs. Havens, it 

was so good in you to promise to take care of us.” 

“ Thank you, my dear ; I expect to enjoy the 
frolic very much myself. There is some fine scenery 
down the river, and an iron-mine also. When we are 
tired of sailing we can ramble about on the land.” 

It will be just delightful ! I am so glad that we 
can go. It would be too bad for the boys to have all 
the nice times.” 

Mrs. Havens smiled. ^^You would make a nice 
time anywhere, Kathie,” she said, patting the little 
girl’s soft cheek. 

“ Dick is all right,” announced Rob an hour or so 
later, as he entered the room, “ and Mr. Langdon is 
wonderfully interested. They ’re all coming here 
to-morrow, and we are going to make out a list of 
necessary articles and send a trunk off to Croftsburg 
on Saturday. I say, is n’t this a gay thing ! ” 

Miss Jessie was included in the “ all,” but the 
ladies held a consultation by themselves. 


214 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOl). 


“ We must make our attire as simple as possible," 
Mrs. Havens said. “ We need about two changes in 
case of getting wet, or any accident ; the largest kind 
of a sun-hat, stout boots, and a large plaid beside a 
waterproof. Our dresses must be short, and some- 
thing that we do not value. Any half-worn garment 
will do to alter over." 

So they went to work. Miss Jessie made a pretty 
gray suit trimmed with scarlet, and Aunt Euth had 
one trimmed with blue. Kathie’s was green, and 
IMr. Meredith declared that she looked like a little 
mermaid en in it. 

Mrs. Havens was just the kind of woman to 
marshal such a party. Ladylike and refined, but 
full of good-humor and merriment, with a quick eye 
and a great deal of good sense. IVIrs. Alston was 
quite satisfied to leave all the management to her. 

So by Saturday they liad all things in readiness. 
The trunk was jDacked, and a case that contained 
fishing-rods and sev eral articles for which Mr. Mere- 
dith had sent to New York. Hick, Eob, and Charlie 
were in the highest state of anticipation. 

Mrs. Alston and Freddy were to go to Croftsburg 
and see the v^oyagers started on their journey. Fred- 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


215 


dy thought it very hard not to be included in the 
party, hut Kathie comforted him by promising that 
Mr. Morrison should teach him to drive Hero, and 
Uncle Eobert gave him a dollar to spend just as he 
liked. / 

It was quite cloudy on Sunday evening, and Eoh 
worked himself into a fever, dreading the rain. 

''Then we can start on Tuesday,” said Mr. Mere- 
dith, with a teasing smile. 

" That would n’t be half so good. I do hate to be 
disappointed ! ” 

Looking at the boy’s eager face it was evident. 
And as Mr. Meredith thought of the great, untried 
world that stretched out before him, and the strength 
to battle with it which lay half developed in the 
straight brows, resolute eyes, and broad chin, he 
wondered if the struggle would be fierce, and who 
would come off conqueror. He had taken a strange 
interest in them all, and this sight carried him back 
to his own impetuous, wilful, and careless boyhood. 
He felt at that moment there were many things he 
would fain blot out, and almost envied the boy’s 
innocence. Only a moment, and then he was his 
usual gay, laughing self. 


216 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


It did not rain, and they all started in high spir- 
its the next morning. Croftsburg was about twelve 
miles down the river, and was the point where navi- 
gation for craft of any size ceased to be practicable. 
Quite a busy little town, with brigs, schooners, tugs, 
and a steamboat or two, lying at the wharf 

They went to the hotel, where Ca])tain Watson was 
awaiting them. The goods were taken down and 
stored on board, and they liad their dinner. The 
remainder of the necessary articles liad been placed 
in the captain’s charge before, and were all safe, he 
promised them, with a rather jolly wink out of his 
left eye. ' 

Mrs. Alston went down to the wharf There was 
the Pilgrim, trim and jaunty, her colors flying, and 
she shining from stem to stern with a coat of 
fresli paint. 

Mamma must go down in the cabin and see how 
it looked ; but it seemed very small indeed. There 
were four berths in a tiny space, but it was nice and 
clean in spite of the curious watery smell. There 
was a table in the cabin, an abundant supply of 
stools, two easy-chairs, and a swinging lam]3 de- 
pending from the ceiling. 


A PLEASURE PARTY. 


217 


“ That 's gay and festive ! ” declared Eob ; and Miss 
Jessie confessed that it was very nice. 

“ Good by,” said everybody, kissing mamma and 
Freddy. 

“Have a nice time; and 0, bring them home 
safely. Captain Watson.” 

“There ’s not a bit of danger, ma’am. It ’s nob 
like the open sea.” 

“ Good by ! ” was Eob’s last shout. 


218 


KATHIK’S SUMMKK AT CEDARWOOD 


CHAPTER XII. 

THE FIRST DAY OUT. 

They all stood on deck and waved their handker- 
chiefs as the Pilgrim slid gracefully out into the 
channel. There was a stiff breeze, and both wind 
and tide were in their favor. Croftsburg began to 
recede. The tall, smoky chimney and great red- 
brick factories, ugly enougli when at hand, were tint- 
ed and subdued by the golden sunshine of ripening 
July. The banks on either side grew greener, and 
a little bend in the river shut off the unsightly town. 

The boys ran about wild. Captain Watson was 
at the helm, and a great stout fellow, as tall, but not 
more than eighteen, with a sunbrowned face and 
tarry hands, was busy about here and there, and 
laughed at the questions with which the boys plied 
him. The gentlemen were sauntering around and 
taking observations, and ^Irs. Havens and Aunt 
Ptuth were unpacking and stowing away a few 
articles. 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


219 


“ What ought we to do ? ” asked Kathie, wonder- 
ingly, of Miss Jessie. 

“ I don’t know, really. It ’s my first sea- voyage 
down a river, so I think I shall go on deck. There ’s 
a nice awning and some seats.” 

“ We are coming too,” said Mrs. Havens. 

They soon seated themselves and began to enjoy 
the scenes through which they passed. Here were 
orchards and cornfields, there wide-spreading mead- 
ows astir with busy life. Sturdy mowers, in their 
shirt-sleeves, swinging their scythes with wide sweeps, 
or pausing to whet them with dim sound musically 
borne on the wind. Lower down stood two great 
wagons, on which the men were pitching the fragrant 
hay. A group of youngsters ran shouting around, or 
climbed atop the load when the homeward word was 
given, barefooted, but with rosy, laughing faces, and 
voices that rang clear and merry on the summer air. 

“ What a beautiful picture ! ” exclaimed Miss 
Jessie. 

Lovely indeed, with its vistas of trees beyond, its 
shimmering light and shade, its birds that made 
vocal all the leafy coverts. What painter can give 
such tone, such wonderful depth ? 


220 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Then a little nest of a village, with white-spired 
church ; old red school-house, where the faces of 
mischievous urchins peeped unexpectedly out of the 
narrow windows ; a dory with its two fishermen ; 
small boats, idly seeking pleasure- or fun ; or a soli- 
tary angler intent upon perch or pickerel. 

Kathie thought that she could watch forever. The 
three gentlemen came and sat by them, and the 
little group fell into an entertaining conversation. 
Yet it seemed so odd and weird to Kathie, — as if 
she were floating ofi‘ somewhere in a dream, or to 
the wonder-land of her yesterday’s childhood. 

“Well, Charlie,” Uncle Eobert asked, presently, 
“ have you been taking lessons ? How many knots 
an hour ? ” 

Charlie laughed. “ Eob ’s the sailor,” he said. 
“ He takes to it naturally. The shores are so beau- 
tiful that I want to look at them continually. Just 
see the flowers, Jessie ! ” 

Fleets of cardinal-flowers in their flaming array, 
lifting up their slender heads like sentinels; pale- 
blue water-lilies, slender ferns, and overhanging 
trails of clematis and ground-ivy, with the trees 
for background, and now and then a huge rock; 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


221 


the perfect loveliness of nature everywhere. Char- 
lie’s heart was strangely stirred. 

Eob bore down upon them presently, and then the 
conversation took a gay turn. He could not tease 
the girls, for they were neither homesick nor sea- 
sick, so he bewildered them with a host of nautical 
phrases. 

Ml’S. Havens glanced at her watch. Why, would 
you believe that it is six o’clock ? ” she said. 

Every one exclaimed at the shortness of the after- 
noon. 

“ Kathie, I guess we ’ll go below and get supper. 
We will be housekeepers to-night, taking our turn 
first, before we are sea-sick.” 

Kathie laughed at that, and was pleased to accom- 
pany her. 

Levi, the mate, as Eob had dubbed him, brought 
them some boiling water, and Mrs. Havens made tea. 
They had provided themselves with all necessary 
edibles, some canned fruit, and some nicely pickled 
salmon. The boys, in true sailor fashion, had insisted 
upon hard-tack, and here it was in abundance. They 
laid a white cloth upon the table, arranged their 
dishes, and displayed their tempting viands. 


222 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


“ All hands below ! ” shouted Eob, as he and Dick 
went skylarking down. 

This is quite a feast I ” declared Mr. Langdon. 

Captain Watson, at their urgent request, had left 
Levi at the helm and joined the party. 

It ’s a long while since I ’ve had so gay a com- 
pany on board,” he said, “ and ladies too.” 

“ They certainly add to the enjoyment,” Mr. Lang- 
don rejoined with a smile. 

Hannah’s home-made bread did not go begging. 
Even Eob left off crunching hard-tack, which he had 
undertaken so heroically, and returned to it. And 
the canned strawberries tasted deliciously here. 

“ Still, this is landsmen’s fare,” said Mr. Meredith. 
“ To-morrow we must have some fish, perhaps a dish 
of chowder. I suppose we will all have to take our 
turn at cooking ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed,” was Mrs. Havens’s response. 

“ Then chowder shall be my dish.” 

“ You ’ll have to be up at daybreak catching your 
fish,” laughed Mr. Langdon. “ I should propose turtle 
soup if there was any chance of the turtle.” 

I ’U consider what sort of surprise I shall give 
you,” said Uncle Eobert. 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


223 


They were a very merry party indeed. The boys 
laughed over everything as only boys can, and when 
the captain saw how easily they were amused, he 
rather helped the fun along. 

Then the dishes were washed and stored away 
safely in the locker, and all hands went on deck 
again. Levi began to spin a wonderful yarn to the 
boys, and the others gathered in a little group, Mr. 
Meredith on Miss Jessie’s side, and Kathie leaning 
her head against her uncle’s shoulder. The wind 
died down with the sun, there was no rustle along 
the banks, and the twilight grew stiller and stiller, 
while the hemlocks and beeches sent long shadows 
over the placid river. Then the moon began to rise ; 
they had so timed their voyage as to have some 
enjoyment by night as well. 

Sing,” said Miss Jessie, presently, to Mr. Meredith. 

He began a quaint German college song, the refrain 
of which the others knew well, and the mellow voices 
joined in the chorus. The tuneful echoes seemed to 
gather in the nooks along the shore, and answer them 
in soft cadences. 

Captain Watson reached a little haven that he knew 
well and cast anchor for the night. The boys rushed 


224 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


to see this proceeding, and tried afterward to imitate 
Levi’s cry, making every variety of sound. 

suppose we may as well turn in,” exclaimed 
Uncle Eobert, or, in landsman’s English, go to bed.” 

“ I ’d like to sleep up here on deck,” declared Eob. 
“ I wish I could.” 

“ And take a journey to the bottom if tlie Pilgrim 
sliould happen to give a lurch ? ” asked Mr. Meredith. 

“Not outside the rail. I ’d stop when I was 
there.” 

It seemed very odd indeed to Kathie to climb into 
the little nest. Aunt Euth took the lower berth. 
Kathie kissed her again and again, and was anxious 
to know if she was enjoying the journey. Then she 
said her prayers reverently, and laid her golden- 
crowned head on the pillow. 

“ But — 0 Aunt Euth ! — if I should fall out ? ” 

“ I ’ll fall out to keep you company,” said Miss 
Jessie, from the opposite side. 

Kathie felt almost timid at first, but she soon 
became used to the rocking motion and the soft 
swash of the water against the sides of the vessel. 
Thinking of mamma and Freddy, miles away, she 
fell asleep. 


THE FIRST DA.Y OUT. 


225 


The boys were up at daybreak the next morning, 
watching Captain Watson weigh anchor, and trim 
the sails, as a fresh breeze was blowing. They soon 
filled with wind, and the Pilgrim went scudding 
along bravely for two hours. By this time the 
ladies were up and had breakfast ready ; and as 
Kob caught the steam of th^ fragrant coffee a most 
voracious appetite woke within him. 

Then tlie wind died down altogether, and the tide 
was running slowly. The lately buoyant sails hung 
listlessly at the mast, and, hemmed in by the high 
hills on either side, there was scarcely a breath of 
air. They made several useless tacks. 

“ Becalmed ! ” laughed Mr. Meredith. 

“ Then we may as well go ashore. The boys want 
a ramble.” 

“ Very well,” responded Captain Watson. 

So the word of command was given. Mrs. Havens 
packed a hamper of necessary articles, and the girls 
each took their plaids. The little boat that had been 
swinging at the Pilgrim’s side was lowered, and 
the ladies were handed in carefully, thougli witli 
much merriment, and rowed to the bank. Then the 
boat returned and the gentlemen followed, — Levi. 


15 


226 KATHIE’S SUxMMEK AT CEDAKWOOl). 

quite delighted with the x)Tivilege of accompanying 
them, carrying the hamper. 

The three elders had their guns and game-bags, in 
which were various traps, slung over their shoulders. 

Eob was in an ecstasy of delight. “ This is gay ! ” 
he declared^ assisting Miss Jessie up the rather steep 
cliff ; ‘‘now for a grand -old day in the woods I ” 

Up the party trudged, scrambling, slipping, and 
laughing. Each one had a mite to add to the gen- 
eral fund of merriment ; indeed, IMrs. Havens kept in 
the most charming spirits. 

By and by they reached a level space, and though 
the grove was still dense there was no underbrush, 
but the thickest, softest moss, interspersed with 
various lichens and tiny blossoms. They were 
rather tired after their jaunt, especially Aunt Euth. 

“ Suppose we keep house here to-day,” said Un- 
cle Eobert ; “ we shall scarcely find a lovelier spot. 
We boys want to amuse ourselves with a little 
hunting. First, though, let us see if we can find 
a spring anywhere around.” 

They took quite a search. Mr. Langdon was the 
first to make the discovery; but the spring was 
about a quarter of a mile farther down. 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


227 


"The place is as fine as this, though,” he said. 

So they took up their line of march, and were soon 
settled in their new quarters. Kathie discovered a 
large flat stone, raised about a foot above the surface 
of the ground. 

" 0,” she exclaimed, "here is an elegant table !” 

Uncle Robert had brought the hammock and fas- 
tened that securely, then with the shawls he arranged 
a comfortable sofa, with the edge of the table-rock 
for its back. Having seen the ladies comfortably 
settled, they gatliered their guns and ammunition 
and strolled away, promising to be back in time for 
dinner. 

Miss Jessie read aloud for a while, and the two 
elder ladies crocheted. But after a little she laid 
down her book and asked Kathie if she did not 
want a ramble. 

“ Yes, indeed,” was the answer. 

" Then we ’ll make a voyage of discovery.”' 

" Don’t get lost,” cautioned Mrs. Havens. 

"We ought to have some hard-tack to^sprinkle 
along our path,” laughed Kathie. 

" 0; I shall not be so cruel as were Hop-o’-my- 
Thumb’s parents,” returned Miss Jessie. 


228 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


They tied on their hats and went off, nodding 
gayly. For a while they followed the course of the 
spring, a mere thread in the grass and moss, but 
gurgling pleasantly along its way. Over to the west- 
ward, opposite the shore-edge, stretched hills and 
vales, wooded or with low-growing shrubs, and here 
and there a patch of rolling meadow-land. They 
found a number of very odd wild-flowers and an 
abundance of wintergreen berries. 

Kathie was a very companionable little girl, viva- 
cious without boldness, and tender without affecta- 
tion. Between her and Miss Jessie there appeared to 
be growing up a peculiar friendship ; perhaps because 
Miss Jessie felt that Kathie must know or suspect 
her secret, and yet with the rarest delicacy never al- 
luded to it, and indulged in no childish teasing or by- 
play. She felt very free and at her ease when in the 
child’s society, and understood and appreciated the 
warm regard Kathie gave. 

" Look at those low bushes over there, Kathie,” 
she said. “ They seem to me like blueberries. 
Hark!” 

Two or three sharp cracks of fire-arms sounded in 
the distance. 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


229 


'' 0 ! ” exclaimed Kathie, '' they are shooting. I 
hope we are not within range.” 

“The sound is too far off for them to do us any 
injury. Let us look at the shrubs.” 

Blueberries, sure enough, large and deliciously ripe. 
No one save the birds had shared their sweetness as 
yet. 

“ What a solitary place ! ” exclaimed Kathie, glan- 
cing around. “ There is not a house in sight.” 

“It seems as if we were a hundred miles from 
Brookside, and yet it lies over in one of those 
shadowy blue vales at the north.” 

Kathie was eating blueberries. “We ought to 
take some back,” she said. 

“ Yes, I was thinking of it. We might pin some 
leaves together and make a basket.” 

The oak leaves were glossy and strong, and the 
largest they could find about. They gathered slender 
sticks and stout pine-needles and fastened together 
(piite a patch, then they began to pick berries and 
deposit the handfuls on their mat of oak leaves. It 
was filled very soon. 

“ 0, here ’s a great burdock,” exclaimed Kathia 
“ Let ’s make a basket.” 


230 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


It was less work to manufacture this into shape, 
and they went to picking again. 

“We have as much as three quarts, and all we can 
take/’ said Miss Jessie. “ They will make us a nice 
dessert. Kathie, do you know the way hack ? ” 

Kathie started, and gave a long, long look. 

“ I think it is in this direction. We passed a 
clump of chestnut-trees, and here is one.” 

“ I am really puzzled, hut I have the same feeling 
about it. We ’ll try.” 

They went on cautiously. ‘‘ There ’s the spring,” 
exclaimed Kathie at length, as she heard its silveiy 
tones over the pehhles. 

“ 0, now we are all right” ; and Miss Jessie drew 
a relieved hreath. 

They soon found their companions. It was so 
early that they determined to make another herry 
excursion. By the time of the second return they 
saw the male portion of the party straggling through 
the trees. 

“ Such si)ort ! ” exclaimed Eoh, triumphantly. “ I ’ve 
shot three myself, and Uncle Eohert let me load the 
gun. Why, it’s nothing!” 

Kathie’s tender little heart ached a moment. To 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


231 


be sure, the birdies were dead and out of pain; but 
why should their simple, joyous lives he so ruthlessly 
ended ? 

“ I suppose we must all turn cooks,” said Mr, 
Meredith. “ 0, look at these berries I Where did 
you find them, girls ? ” 

“We went hunting too,” declared Miss Jessie, with 
an arch smile. 

Mr. Meredith scooped up a handful, and confessed 
that they were delicious. 

“ Come, hoys, look for some dry wood. Did n’t 
we bring a hatchet ? ” 

Tire hatchet was found, and the three youngsters 
started for some fuel. 

Mr. Langdon and Uncle Kobert soon improvised 
a fireplace with some stones and a couple of forked 
sticks. Mr. Meredith went at dressing the birds. 
Levi filled the kettle and suspended it in true gypsy 
fashion. Kathie and Miss Jessie began to arrange 
the table. 

“ Where ’s the tea ? ” said iVIrs. Havens. “ I am 
sure that I put in some.” 

“ 0, if you have forgotten the tea ! ” and Mr 
Meredith looked threatening. 


232 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


You are such an inveterate grandmother ! ” 
laughed Mrs. Havens. 

Well, I ’ll console myself with a cigar. Kathie, 
have you turned Chinaman and devoured half a 
pound of tea in our absence?” 

0, here it is ! ” and the small package was pro- 
duced. 

“ Well for you that you found it ! ” 

The tea was made, and then Uncle Eohert began 
to broil the birds. Being an old campaigner, he un- 
derstood the art perfectly. The savory fragrance 
sharpened their appetites. 

“Here is nectar and ambrosia, a feast fit for 
kings ! ” 

“With four-and-twenty blackbirds broiled in a 
pie,” chanted Mr. Langdon in so comical a tone that 
the boys set up a shout. 

They drew near their sylvan table and seated 
themselves on the mossy ground. 

“Here are the dryads and Ganymedes,” said Mr. 
Meredith, with a flourish. “My friends, thrice wel- 
come to the feast ! ” 

Bob declared that they had three courses, — two of 
birds and one of bones. Never was a dinner enjoyed 


THE FIRST DAY OUT. 


233 


with keener relish. Then the gentlemen felt lazy 
and spread themselves out on the grass. Levi 
thought he would go down to the boat and see 
what the prospect was. 

Mr. Meredith and Miss J essie found a cosey nook 
to themselves, Mr. Conover lay on the grass beside 
Aunt Euth, and Mr. Langdon told Kathie about a 
voyage he once made up the Ehine. The hoys grew 
restless, and finally rambled out of the circle. 

Don’t go very far,” said Uncle Eobert. 

Dick had his gun. They started over the ridge 
where they had been in the morning, and for nearly 
half an hour Uncle Eobert heard a faint report of the 
gun. Levi came hack with the word that both wind 
and tide were in their favor, and that the captain was 
ready to start. The ladies began to pick up their 
shawls and other belongings. 

I wish the boys would come,” said Uncle Eobert. 

“ They ’ll he along presently. Let us Avalk down, 
though Levi might stay here,” was Mr. Meredith’s 
response. 

Levi signified his willingness. 

They all felt quite fresh, and descended the cliff in 
gay spirits. Captain Watson had been fishing, as he 
supposed they were almost starved,” he said. 


234 KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDAR WOOD. 

Kathie gave liiiii a glowing account of the day and 
the dinner, ending with, “ You missed a good deal by 
not coming.” 

“ So I see, my little lady.” 

“What can keep the hoys?” Uncle Eobert was 
growing anxious. 

“I ’ll walk hack with you, Conover,” said Mr. 
Meredith. 

They found Levi perched on their late table, a pic- 
ture of resignation and patience. Not a sight nor 
sound had he been vouchsafed. 

“ They are lost, I am afraid. Do you know any- 
thing about these woods, Levi ? ” 

Levi did not. 

“ I wish I had my rifle,” exclaimed Mr. Meredith. 
“ Levi, suppose you run down for it.” 

The youth was absent a long while. The two men 
walked up and down impatiently. The darkness 
began to gather here in the thick woods, and the 
shrill voices of insects were starting into a chorus. 
To spend a night liere might not be unpleasant if one 
were prepared for it ; botli of them had done the like 
many a time before, but searching or anxious watch - 
ini'- did not look so invitin<r. 


THE FIRST DAY OUT;. 


235 


The rifle made its appearance at last, and Mr. 
Meredith fired several times in quick succession. In 
vain they waited for an answer. The woods grew 
darker and more solemn. 

“ The ladies were quite alarmed,” Levi remarked. 

“We may as well go down, Meredith, for if the 
boys have lost their way they can hardly find it again 
in this darkness. And one might as well look for 
the world-renowned needle in a haystack.” 

So they retraced their steps to the boat. 


236 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 

When tlie three boys started away that afternoon 
they scarcely noticed the direction they were taking, 
so intent were they upon amusement. They shot 
several times, but as game appeared rather scarce 
they kept on, hardly thinking of the passing time. 
Indeed, an hour out there seemed a very brief space. 

The ground began to descend after a while. “ I 
think we could go out this way to the river,” Rob 
said. 

But it might make our walk longer, and reaUy, 
Rob, we must set our faces toward the encamp- 
ment,” Dick Grayson answered. 

“ Just one more shot. Look what a sight ! ” 

Rob was becoming a most enthusiastic sportsman. 
He fired now into a flock of birds and brought down 
three, two of which had been killed instantly. 

“ Now let ’s turn about,” began Charlie, anxiously. 

I feel quite sure that the road by the river would 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 


237 


be the most direct. You remember that we could 
look straight down it this morning.” 

Dick was a little dubious, and finally came over to 
Eob’s side. 

“ If we could have a look at the sun ! ” 

“ Well, you see by the rays that it is going down 
over there, and the river is east of it,” was the posi- 
tive rejoinder. 

Charlie could not gainsay that fact, but he had a 
misgiving that they were going wrong. Still, he 
knew by experience that he seldom convinced Eob 
of any fact unless he could place the proofs directly 
before his eyes, so he walked on briskly, trying to 
hope that they would come out all right. 

The woods grew more dense, and they began to 
find that they had left the hill. The ground was 
covered with damp, rank moss, and there was a 
peculiar scent that indicated water. 

“We shall be there soon,” said Eob. “You can 
hear the river.” 

And yet they did not reach it very speedily. On 
they travelled through underbrush and luxuriant 
vines, and now the sun had left them entirely. 

“ I wish we had gone back,” said Charlie, slowly. 


238 KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 

“ Don’t be a baby ! Why, 1 should n’t mind being 
in the woods all night.” 

“ But the others will be alarmed.” 

Bob thought of the night that Freddy was out in 
the boat. They were in no danger of death or acci- 
dent, to be sure, but after all it was n’t exactly com- 
fortable. 

“ We ’ll have to make the best of it,” exclaimed 
Dick, cheerfully. “ Here we come to something, but 
I am afraid it is not Guilford Biver.” 

A small stream flowing through the woods, and a 
descent over the stones in one place had caused the 
tidelike murmur. They glanced at each other with 
blank faces. Bob broke into a gay laugh, for the 
comicality of the scene was too much for him. 

“We are lost !” declared Dick. 

“ That ’s just it.” 

“ I ’m awful tired ” ; and Charlie dropped down on 
a moss-grown stump. 

“Well, let ’s rest awhile and consider,” began 
Dick, good-humoredly. “ Charlie, in which direction 
do you think Guilford Biver lies ? ” 

Charlie meditated. “ This way,” was his slow an- 


swer. 


A night in the woods. 


239 


" It seems to me that is just north. Now I should 
say straight over.” 

“ But this stream must empty into the river.” 

“ I suppose it does. Well, it can’t be very far. If 
you are rested, let us tramp on.” 

Bob had said nothing. He had a fancy that they 
were both wrong, or else he must be greatly so. He 
picked up and went on sturdily. 

The stream wound around, and, if the boys had but 
known it, they were no nearer their destination after 
half an hour’s walk. 

“ Why did n’t we climb a tree and take a good 
view ? ” began Eob. “ I ’m going to do it now, for I 
don’t beUeve that we are right, after all.” 

The sun had gone down, and nearly half the sky 
seemed full of rosy clouds, so it would be difficult to 
tell which was the south and which the west. They 
ascended a tall chestnut and took a survey. They 
appeared to be in something of a valley, for above 
them there was a range of woody hills, and below 
them a precisely similar one. On either side an in- 
dentation which might be the river, but they were so 
turned around that not one of them could tell. 

“ Well, Charlie,” said Eob, rather teasingly. 


240 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


I wish we were back ; but I am afraid we shall 
not be to-night.” 

“ No, we may as well give that up and wait until 
sunrise ; so it ’s no use rambling about to no purpose. 
Let us choose a nice spot and encamp.” 

They looked around. The darkness was coming 
down upon them very fast. 

"AVe may as well be jolly!” said Eob ; “I only 
wish Ave had something to eat. Suppose we make 
a fire and cook our birds. Have either of you a 
match ? ” 

Charlie had not. Dick searched everywhere, 
turned his pockets wrong side out, and finally 
found one that had slipped in the coyer of his 
memorandum-book. 

“ J list one chance ’ ” exclaimed Eob, soberly. 

Powder and shot are all gone too ; I gave you 
my last.” 

They collected some dry leaves and twigs, and 
Eob had a little paper. Who is sure-handed ? ” 
he asked. “Dick, I think you had better try the 
match.” 

He was a trifle nervous over their solitary chance. 
However, it was a success, and the twigs soon went 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 


241 


to blazing. They threw brush and dead branches 
upon this, and in a few moments had a glowing fire. 
The next thing was to dress the birds. There were 
nine of them, just three apiece. Before long they 
were sputtering and scenting the air with their 
appetizing fragrance. 

The boys were very hungry, and though the broil- 
ing might not have been done to a turn, even the 
burnt ends tasted good. They took a drink out of 
the stream at its clearest place, and then began to 
discuss what provision must be made for sleeping. 

“ As we are neither birds nor chickens, we can’t 
try a tree,” exclaimed Dick, laugliingly, so we must 
be content with the ground. I guess it won’t give us 
the rheumatism.” 

Charlie looked soberly into the flaring fire. He was 
not particularly timid, but he could n’t help thinking 
of Jessie and Kathie, and the Pilgrim at anchor. It 
seemed very lonesome out here in the woods. 

“ There ’s nothing to be afraid of,” said Eob, reas- 
suringly ; “ that is, brigands or wild animals. Still I 
wish we had a little powder and shot.” 

“We ’ll be asleep in five minutes after we ’re 
settled, for I ’m tired as a dog,” was Dick’s rejoinder. 


16 


242 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


"‘Let US make up a good fire, and there ’ll be no need 
of any one watching.” 

No one negatived the proposition. Truth to tell, 
they were all sleepy and tired, and the heat of the 
fire had made them still more drowsy. Eob brought 
an armful of sticks and piled them on compactly, 
then threw himself down on the soft turf, thinking of 
Indian wigwams, trail-hunters, trappers, and a con- 
fused series of dime-novels. He used to fancy 
that he would like such a life. Well, it was n’t so 
l)ad, after all! 

You ’re taking it comfortably,” said Dick, with a 
laugh. 

“ Well, why not ? Charlie, are you homesick ? ” 

“ No,” was the soft, sweet answer ; and Eob could 
not find it in his heart to go on teasing him. 

Some impulse led him to turn his head presently. 
Charlie was kneeling at a little distance, his hands 
clasped and his head bowed. 

It gave the boy a peculiar sensation. He always 
said his prayers at home, of course, but last night, in 
the excitement, he had forgotten all about it. He 
put his hand over on Dick’s warm face. “ Dick,” 
he wliispered, softly, “ did you say your prayers ? ” 





A Night in the Woods. Page 242. 


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A NIGHT IN THE V/OODS. 


243 


" Yes/’ was the answer, in as low a tone ; “ I want 
God to keep me safely on this of all nights.” 

So Eoh began ‘"Our Father who art in heaven,” 
to himself. It was a very lazy way of praying, and 
his conscience smote him a little, but somehow he 
had n’t the courage and energy to rise. 

The moon was up and sent a few lance-like rays 
through the thick foliage. The wind rustled fitfully 
now and then, and bore to them the faint sound of a 
distant owl, whose melancholy lament was nearly 
drowned by the shriller voices that break the stillness 
of a summer’s night. 

Charlie crept up to the little circle, and they all 
said a pleasant good-night to each other. In five 
minutes Eob was asleep, and Dick soon followed. 
Charlie lay awake watching the blaze that was gradu- 
ally fading. They had managed so that there should 
be no danger of setting the woods on fire, and he was 
not frightened or lonely, but still an awesome feeling 
came over him. However, he was too weary long to 
resist sweet sleep. 

Wliat startled Eob some time in the night he 
could hardly remember, — most of all, I think, an 
uneasy position and a sense of chilliness. He rose 


244 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


suddenly on liis elbow and wondered where he was. 
Not at home in his comfortable bed, not even on 
board the Pilgrim. Then he remembered the day’s 
adventures and peered about in the darkness. The 
fire had gone out, the moon was down, the wind 
rustled through the trees, and at a little distance the 
stream fretted over the stones. It was so solemnly 
still that Pob’s heart fluttered a trifle, and his breath 
came in gasps. He felt for his companions and found 
them safe. 

Then he heard a strange sound. A snore or groan 
that did not come from their party, he was quite sure. 
A stealthy rustle among the dead leaves, and then all 
the horrible stories he had ever read of midnight assas- 
sins, robbers who lived in woods and caves, and luna- 
tics who had broken from tlieir confinement, rushed 
over him. The sound was repeated — yes, he was 
quite sure it was a groan. What if some one had. 
been murdered at a short distance ! 

Eob’s hair fairly stood on end. He was no coward, 
but it was not pleasant to be there either with a mur- 
dered man or a murderer, and unarmed, as one might 
say. Tlien suppose they should get into some difficulty 
about it and be kept from their party ! Should he 
wake the boys ? 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 


245 


He found Dick’s gun, and grasped it nervously. 
He might deal a good blow with it, if it came to self- 
defence. Another of those groans, and he shivered. 

Dick stirred and threw out his hands, the sudden 
contact startling him into wakefulness. 

“ Hillo ! ” he cried in surprise. “ Is it you, Eob, or 
Charlie ? ” 

“ Hush ! ” returned Eob, in a low tone. 

“ Why — 0, we are out in the woods, are n’t we ? 
You have n’t been awake all night, Eob ? I ’ve slept 
like a trooper, but I feel stiff and cold. Our fire ’s out 
too.” 

“ Hush ! ” softly, and grasping Dick’s arm. 

“ 0, what ’s that ? Is Charlie safe ? ” and then it 
was Dick’s turn to tremble. “Have you heard it 
long ? ” 

“ No ; that is, — I have n’t been awake very long. 
What can we do, Dick ? ” 

“ Nothing in this pitchy darkness. We ’ll have to 
wait until morning. How long, I wonder ? ” 

“ I wish I could see my watch.” 

“ Some poor fellow ’s been hurt, half killed maybe.” 

That solution comforted Eob a little. Perhaps the 
person had n’t been murdered, after all. 


246 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD, 


Then followed a rustling about in the leaves. It 
seemed to come nearer, and the boys clasped liands. 
I am not sure but Eob ’s impulse would have led 
him to climb a tree for safety, but his pride would 
not allow him to make the suggestion first. 

They sat there in silence, listening. Somehow Eob 
seemed to feel that the world was very wide and 
full of dangers, and He who held it in the hollow 
of his hand was the only sure refuge and safeguard. 
He thought of the sleepy, cowardly prayer that he 
had said, and his head sank in shame. 

“ It ’s coming nearer,” Dick whispered. Had we 
not better wake Charlie ? ” 

There was a sort of snuffle, a crunch of something, 
and then an unmistakable piggish grunt ! 

Eob was first to recover, and in spite of a linger- 
ing fear that it might be some sort of feint, his 
laugh rang out clear and free, and Dick joined him. 

His porcine majesty came nearer, and favored them 
with another grunt. 

“ 0, I know ! ” said Eob. He ’s looking for 
acorns. But he might have more manners than 
to get up in the middle of the night and disturb his 
betters ’ ” 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 


247 


‘‘It must be almost morning. There ’s a light 
streak through the trees.” 

“ Sure enough.” 

The noise had roused Charlie, and he started up, 
rubbing his limbs, and inquiring into the matter. 

Dick told the story with embellishments. Piggy 
still grunted, but did not venture very near. 

The day began to dawn. A wood-robin took up 
the chant of morning, and one voice and another 
joined in it. They could distinguish different 
objects, so they washed their hands and faces in 
the brook and discussed their journey once more. 

“The sun is about rising. Rob, here is the east, 
and we can’t be very far from the river ! ” 

“Well, we will try it again.” 

So they sat there watching the glorious dawn, 
none the worse for their adventure. As soon as they 
could see they left their encampment with its heap 
of ashes and blackened brands, and piggy rooting 
about for acorns or last year’s chestnuts. They did 
not feel so very brisk at first, but they grew more 
“ limber ” as they went on their cheerful way. Yes, 
here was the river. 

“ I thought tliis was right last night,” Rob said, 
with a little triumph. 


248 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ And I was wrong,” admitted Charlie, frankly. 

Never mind, old fellow, it was an afternoon of 
mistakes. I dare say I made the first one, — it ’s 
like my luck,” Rob replied, with unwonted generosity. 

They looked up the stream and could distinguish 
the distant boat. “ If we could only make them see 
us,” Charlie said. 

They trudged on, however, tliough the walk was a 
long one. Rob tied his handkerchief to a slender 
sapRng and signalled now and then, but it seemed as 
if no one was astir. 

In spite of Mr. Meredith’s cool way of taking it, 
tliere liad been more than one anxious heart on board 
tlie Pilgrim. Aunt Ruth feared an accident had hap- 
pened with the gun, and Jessie would have conjured 
up fifty frightful things if Mr. Meredith had not 
nipped every one in the bud with a laugh. But they 
overslept themselves at the last. 

“ Hoorray ! ” ex.claimed Levi, as he was washing up 
the deck. There ’s some sort o’ signal down below. 
Bring your glass, cap’n.” 

Captain Watson descried the three boys, and 
weighed anchor immediately. 

^‘MTiat^now, shipmate ?” Mr. Conover sang out, as 
he peered through the tiny w:indow. 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS 


249 


Why, we ’re under lieadway, that ’s all. A fine 
stiff breeze too.” 

“ But the boys ? ” 

“ 0, the boys will come to light. Boys, like cats, 
have nine lives.” 

Mr. Conover hurried on his clothes, hut the un- 
seemly haste was soon explained. There were the 
truants waiting at the shore-edge. 

Levi went out in the little boat after them. The 
ladies, hearing the commotion, wxre rising, but Kathie 
alone had her toilet completed when she heard a 
joyful shout in Bob’s voice. 

“O,” she exclaimed, rushing on deck, ''the boys 
have come ! ” 

There they were, as bright as you please, with the 
appetites of hungry hears. 

" So you ’ve had a night in the woods, with no 
girls to bother you. Bob,” said his uncle, gayly. 

" And it was n’t so bad either^ since we found our 
way back by breakfast-time.” 

" I am glad that you met with no accident.” 

"We were actually lost,” exclaimed Dick, "and 
our usually reliable brains turned upside - down. 
Each one had a way to suggest, and each way was 


250 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD 


wrong ; but tliis morning we found a path out with- 
out difficulty, after a refreshing night’s sleep in the 
woods. And, Kathie, we have an adventure for 
you.” 

Eob colored, and they all laughed. 

“ JSTo partiality,” declared IMr. Meredith. 

Kathie was delighted to see them, and asked a 
multitude of questions. The captain said they 
deserved a rope’s-end, but there was a gleam of 
fun in his eye. The ladies came up, the welcomes 
grew warmer, and altogether the return made a merry 
time. 

“ We have fish enough for breakfast,” said Mrs. 
Havens, smilingly. “ Boys, we missed you out of 
the dish, and I felt half inclined to throw up the 
cook’s position out of pure grief.” 

Dick assured her that such a step would be un- 
necessary now. Charlie told them about the supper 
and the bed they had improvised. 

“ But there ’s some fun behind it all,” was Kathie’s 
shrewd guess. 

After the breakfast things were cleared away, they 
all went on deck under the awning, and Kathie begged 
to hear the adventure. 


A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. 


251 


Eob, you will hav'o to tell the first part, but I 
want to finish. I am afraid that you won’t do it 
justice,” said Dick. 

Dick’s part was by far the most graphic. He even 
excited the male portion of the audience in the skil- 
ful manner in which he aroused their fears, and when 
he had their complete attention he made a long 
pause at the most interesting point. 

Oh ! ” said Kathie, with dilated eyes, what did 
he do ? What was it ? ” 

" Why, he did just this ” ; and Dick mimicked, the 
sound to the life. 

“ 0, it was n’t — ” and Miss Jessie paused. 

“ Yes, a stray pig which was lost in the woods ! ” 

They all laughed heartily. 

“Why, that ’s no adventure at all,” said Kathie, 
with some disappointment. 

“ It was enough for us, — was n’t it, Eob ? ” 

The three boys confessed themselves very well 
satisfied with their night in the woods. 


252 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


CHAPTEE XIV. 

THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 

They had a delightful day on the river, and passed 
lovely little pictures, framed in by green hills, vil* 
lages, meadow-lands, — haunts that might still be 
the liome of wood-nymphs wild. They fished a little, 
and the captain knew of a bed of clams in a kind of 
bay that ran up into the land ; so they stopped and 
dug some, and had an elegant clam-roast. Kathie 
thought she had never tasted any so deliciously 
sweet. The boys went off on a short hunting expe- 
dition, — Eob proud to be trusted alone with his 
uncle’s gun, — and this time they did not get lost ; 
but they were glad to turn in early, and have a good 
night’s sleep, while their elders sat on deck in the 
moonlight. 

‘‘ To-morrow, about noon, we shall reach Thoresby 
Furnace,” said Captain Watson. 

That is our farthest point down. I want the 
children to see it at night ; but that will only give 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


253 


US Friday and Saturday in which to return. Pretty 
close work.” 

“ I guess we can do it, though, Mr. Conover ; we 
shall not have so many breaks coming back.” 

" 0 no.” 

Aunt Euth stood the voyage beautifully. She was 
growing real strong again, and every day gave thanks 
for her recovery. To Kathie it seemed an absolute 
miracle. She and Miss Jessie were having a most 
delightful time. In truth, it was a very pleasant 
party. Grave and quiet Charlie toned Eob’s bois- 
terousness, while Dick stood between the two, as it 
were, full of fun, yet refined and gentlemanly. They 
all liked him very much. 

They spent the next morning in concocting various 
messes, and having any quantity of amusement. Mr. 
Meredith made his chowder, though he declared he 
had none of the right materials. Kathie said he put 
in it a pinch of this and a pinch of that, and stirred 
it with a stick of cinnamon. Eke the old woman’s 
pudding. Mr. Langdon told her that he was making 
turtle-soup without the turtle. Uncle Eobert gave 
his dish a Chinese name ; and the boys declared that 
they could not tell which was the best. They ate 


254 


KATIIIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


and lauglied, until Eob insisted that he could sit up 
no longer ; so he took a snooze in the cabin. 

It was three when they arrived at Thoresby Fur- 
nace, — a dreary - looking place, situated between 
two hills, high enough ; a regular iron - district, with 
mines, smelting - furnaces, and rolling-mills. The 
houses were low, many of them unpainted and dingy 
in appearance, while the very air seemed full of gray- 
ish dust and soot. Squads of uncombed and bare- 
footed children ran about, and the women were gaunt 
and untidy. The men were stalwart and sinewy, with 
great brawny muscles and fierce eyes, that looked all 
the more weird set in these dust-grimed faces. 

First, they took a walk around the mines. The 
whitish -gray masses of every shape, just as they 
were broken and detached from their native bed, 
were scattered in every direction, and gleaming with 
bits of other substances. In one direction the lode 
was quite deep, and they descended the shaft. 

The boys enjoyed groping about by the rays of the 
lantern, but Kathie and Miss J essie were not quite so 
fond of stumbling around in this semi-darkness. Dick 
and Eob had quite a conversation with a group of 
miners. Both boys felt quite proud of their small 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


255 


smattering of mineralogy, and gathered sundry speci- 
mens that were quite curiosities on account of their 
peculiar connection with foreign bodies. 

They were all wonderfully entertained by several 
experiments with a loadstone, and could have whiled 
away a wliole day in peering about and stumbling 
upon discoveries. 

So they came out to daylight again and stared at 
each other in a surprised fashion, as if there had been 
some danger of their turning black by their stay 
underground. 

“ It is quite refreshing to get into the upper world 
once more,” Miss Jessie said, but the boys cast lin- 
gering glances behind. 

The furnaces quite surprised Kathie, who con- 
cluded that they bore an extremely limited resem- 
blance to their kitchen namesake. 

“ But they ’re made to cook iron, that ’s the dif- 
ference,” explained Eob. 

And cooking iron was certainly no trifle. They 
entered the low doorway of one furnace, and the heat 
seemed stifling. 

" I don’t see how any one can endure it,” Miss 
Jessie said. 


256 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“The men get used to it,” was Mr. Meredith’s 
laughing reply, “just as eels do to skinning. Tend- 
ing the furnace is nothing to the rolling - mill, how- 
ever.” 

They inspected the great masses of iron of almost 
every conceivable shape, and the quantities of refuse 
matter. One furnace was being cleaned out and re- 
paired, and they had an opportunity for inspection. 
The boys were very much interested, and plied tlie 
keeper with numerous questions. 

They went to the rather shabby hotel for their 
supper, but the landlady, a woman of low Dutch ex- 
traction, was jolly and clever, and a most excellent 
cook. Such delicious biscuits would have been hard 
to find, and the broiled chicken was perfection, to 
say nothing of the generous pieces of blueberry -pie. 

Ill the evening they inspected a rolling-mill under 
full blast. Here the heat was unendurable, and they 
rushed to the windows for a breath of air. From 
one kettle the men were filling moulds, dipping the 
fiery liquid that hissed and seethed as it touched the 
mould, and writhed along like a glaring serpent. It 
fairly made Katliie shiver. 

In another apartment they were making great 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


257 


sheets. The noise and clamor were enough to deafen 
one, and the men looked frightful in the blazing 
light that quivered around them like an atmos- 
phere from another world. 

The beauty of all, the girls thought, was the blaze 
that rushed out of the great chimney and made a 
scarlet daylight against the sky, radiating molten 
stars in every direction. It was like the most bril- 
liant of fireworks, and, standing out in the cool air, 
they all enjoyed the sight wonderfully. 

“ If you have a mind to get back to the boat now, 
wind and tide are in our favor,” said Captain Watson. 

“ But it does n’t seem just right to make you work 
night and day,” interposed Mr. Langdon. “Let us 
take a turn, the night is so pleasant.” 

“ 0, Levi and I won’t mind for a while. The 
Pilgrim scuds along like a bird in a fair breeze.” 

So they bade Thoreshy Furnace good by, and at 
ten embarked on their return voyage. 

“To-morrow will be Friday,” said Eob. “The 
week ’s twice too short.” 

“ And yet it seems a long while since we started,” 
Kathie replied. “I quite want to see mamma and 
Freddy.” 


17 


258 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


"‘I wisli we were out for a month instead.” 

They were not sleepy, so they all sat on deck and 
sang and talked until nearly midnight. Then Mr. 
Langdon and Uncle Eobert took the Pilgrim in 
charge, and the rest turned in, as Dick and Eoh 
would have it. 

It was clear enough when they went to bed, but 
though they slept past sunrise no sun came to 
waken them. The sky was gray and cloudy, and 
the wind blew rather chilly, though being northeast 
it was in their favor. 

“ 0,” exclaimed Eob, disappointedly, " we can’t do 
anything at all to-day ; it ’s going to rain ! ” 

“ There ’ll be a storm,” announced Levi, solemnly. 
“ You need n’t be afraid, though, — it ain’t nothing 
like being at sea.” 

“ Ho ! afraid on this little river ! ” was Eob’s con- 
temptuous reply. “ I wish we were at sea ; there ’d 
be some fun in a storm then.” 

“ Not much if you were wet to the skin and had to 
keep going all the time, and did n’t know but the 
next blow might send you to Davy Jones.” 

The tide was swift and high, but they could count 
on that only about an hour, so they crowded all sail 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


259 


and skimmed along gallantly. By the time break- 
fast was over a drizzling rain had commenced. It 
was close and warm in the cabin, so the ladies put 
on their waterproofs and went up on deck under the 
awning. The scenery was not deficient in beauty. 
Over the highest hills hung the gray clouds, while 
just below, on the very tree-tops it seemed, rested an 
under-roof of hazy twilight blue, while the far re- 
cesses looked dark and mysterious. The fine rain 
covered the branches almost like frostwork, the 
willows and alders drooped with their burden of 
gems, the gray rocks grew soft in outline, and there 
fell over all a tender hush, a kind of suggestive 
silence, as if the world waited for something. 

Then the tide began to change, but with a good 
wind they made fair headway until about two, when 
the breeze died down and it grew very sultry. 

“ There T1 be a tremendous shower, or I ’m mis- 
taken,” said Captain Watson. 

“ Why ? ” and Eob glanced around. There were 
several breaks in the sky which he thought much 
more indicative of clearing. 

“ There ’s thunder in that cloud down south, and 
the wind ’s shifting a trifle.” 


2G0 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AX CEDARWOOD. 


Eob locked on witli a wise air, but asked, presently, 
What are you going to do ? ” 

“ Come to anchor. We Ve been beating about 
long enough.” 

This part of it had become rather tiresome, and 
.the rolling motion was not the most delightful in 
Jhe world. Aunt Euth had a headache and was 
lying do^vn, and the rest were quite in want of a 
new excitement. 

Captain Watson watched the cloud. By and by 
the edge turned a dull indigo, while just underneath 
there was a curiously light streak. 

“It looks almost as if the sun might come out 
there, if it was the right place for it this time of 
day,” suggested Dick. 

“There ’ll be another kind of sun,” was Levi’s 
grim retort. 

Captain Watson steered the boat into a Ettle cove, 
and he and Levi made all things ready. Eob and 
Dick were delighted to “ lend a hand,” as the good- 
natured captain allowed them to think they were 
quite serviceable. 

A long, low rumble of thunder, and then the clouds, 
came hurrying fast, growing darker and darker. It 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


261 


almost seemed like night here on the shaded river. 
Then a spiteful little flash of lightning ran across the 
sky. 

Kathie and Jessie went down to the cabin rather 
reluctantly, hut Charlie, Mr. Meredith, and Uncle 
Eohert followed. 

Why, it ’s dark as midnight down here ! Let us 
have a lamp lighted,” said Mr. Meredith. 

A sudden gust of wind roared and crashed among 
the trees. They heard the storm coming on like the 
tramp of a terrible army. Kathie peered out of the 
window, making a shelter with her hands, but she 
could see nothing save in the vivid flashes of light- 
ning. 

The rain came on furiously. They heard it on the 
deck like the beating of hailstones, the trees writhed 
and twisted, the thunder pealed along in a most 
terrific fashion. 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed Kathie ; suppose we should be 
struck ! ” 

“ With the thunder ? ” and Mr. Meredith laughed. 

Ko, you know I did not mean that ! ” 

There is not much danger.” 

The Pilgrim tugged hard, as if she would fain have 


262 


KATHIE'S SUMMEK AT CEDARWOUl). 


bi'uken from lier mooring and breasted the storm in 
a more courageous fashion. Kathie could not help 
feeling a trifle timid, and cuddled close to Uncle 
liobert, starting when some fierce shock seemed to 
rend the very heavens. Once he bent his head and 
whispered, Is not my little girl in God’s hands ? ” 

She looked up with a bright smile. 

In some fifteen or twenty minutes the shower 
began to abate, and the thunder rolled along on 
the other side of the hill. As soon as practicable 
the boys made a rush down stairs, looking like 
drowned rats indeed. 

“ It was just splendid,” exclaimed Eob. “ There ’s 
been a tree struck on the opposite bank. I ’ll tell 
you all about it when I get on some dry clothes.” 

The two boys had enjoyed it very much. Levi 
was mopping up the deck, and they soon marched 
out, glad to leave the close cabin, now opened in 
every direction for air. Hosts of clouds were still 
scudding along, some black and angry-looking, but in 
the west there was a bright streak with a suggestion 
of blue. The wind still moaned among the trees 
that shook showers from their branches, and the 
river dashed along in quite a commotion. 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


263 


Where is the tree ? ” asked Miss Jessie. 

“ Over there. It was a great oak, but did n’t it 
come down with a crash ! The wind twisted the 
limbs about as if they were the merest twigs.” 

Half of the tree had been split down and was lying 
partly over the river’s edge. A blackened streak 
seemed to have been ploughed down the fresh trunk, 
splintering it savagely. 

“ That ’s pretty close,” said Mr. Meredith, gravely. 

“ If it had been our boat ! ” Kathie whispered just 
above her breath. 

“ My dear child, thank God that it was not.” 

“ It rather made a fellow shake in his shoes,” said 
Eob. “ It was like a ball of fire for an instant, — 
enough to blind you ; but, before you could think, it 
was all over. Yes, I ’m glad that it was not us.” 

They all felt that they had been very near a 
great danger. The boys’ description was extremely 
entertaining, however, — better than seeing it, Kathie 
thought. 

The wind freshened, and the sails were hoisted 
once more. It had been rather damp and chilly 
in the morning and sultry at noon, but now the 
air was delightful. 


264 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


It ’s best to make all we can,” said Captain Wat- 
son. There was no knowing what might happen to 
them to-morrow. 

They sat in a little group that night, and the elders 
told over the most remarkable storms that they had 
met with. The captain had not spent all his life on 
a quiet river, yet his had not been quite as wide a 
world as Mr. Conover’s, and he listened with much 
interest to an account of some of the wild tropical 
storms. Mr. Meredith had been off the coast of Nor- 
way and seen the Maelstrom, which was quite a ven- 
der to his young hearers. 

The moon was shining brightly when they sepa- 
rated for the night. 

“ Only one more day,” sighed Eob. 

“ It seems odd to think that we shall be at home 
to-morrow night,” said Miss Jessie, “ when this quiet 
river really appears miles and miles away from 
Brookside.” 

Kathie could hardly realize it either. It was like 
being out of the world in some enchanted realm. 

They went along beautifully until nearly noon of 
the next day, when they were again becalmed. The 
sails hung idly, the boat merely rocked, and with 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


265 


tacking under every guise made very little headway. 
Tlie tide was running out strongly. 

“We might stop in the woods and have one more 
dinner,” suggested Mr. Meredith. “ The tramp will 
do ns good, and we ’ll get in hy eight. The last train 
leaves then, I believe.” 

It was so very warm in this broiling August sun 
that his proposal was hailed joyfully. And just on 
the bank was a shady, inviting spot, so they were 
soon ashore. 

The boys clamored for a short hunting expedition, 
and in an unused meadow beyond the girls found 
some berries, so they had quite a gay time. The 
game was rather scarce, however, so the meal was an 
exceedingly rural one. 

“ Here ’s to another pleasant tour some time ! ” said 
Mr. Langdon, raising his glass. “ Although it is only 
water, it may be as productive of success.” 

“ 0, a speech ! ” exclaimed Eob. “ Some one ought 
to make a speech. Mr. Meredith ! ” 

Mr. Meredith rose and improved the occasion in a 
most felicitous manner. The boys gave him three 
hearty cheers. 

“How, Eob, it ’s your turn,” declared his uncle. 


266 


KATHIL'S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


" We ought to liear something from you boys.” 

But Rob was seized with a sudden fit of modesty. 
Dick Grayson answered on behalf of his comradeSj 
thanking the gentlemen for their care and kindness, 
and the ladies for their trouble, their good -humor and 
courage, and, above all, for their cooking ! ” 

“ 0 Dick, you ’re a true man ! ” exclaimed Miss 
Jessie, with a laugh. “ That ’s the royal road to 
their hearts, I believe.” 

“ Now we ought to have a song,” said Mrs. Ha- 
vens. 

Tliey made the woods ring with their choruses. 
Last of all they tried “ Auld Lang Syne.” Two 
voices trembled a little in this verse : — 

“We twa hae paddled i’ the burn, 

Frae morning sun till dine, 

The seas between us braid hae roared. 

Sill auld lang syne.” 

And, glancing at those happy youthful faces, the 
wonder came, as it always does to older hearts, where 
their lot would be cast, and their wanderings end. In 
the Great City, eternal in tlie heavens, at last. Uncle 
iiobert softly prayed. 

Then they picked up their few traps and marched 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


267 


down to the shore. Kathie gathered a stray fern or 
two. She and Miss Jessie had quite filled their port- 
folios with various leaves and flowers as reminders 
of the pleasant tour. 

‘‘ Farewell, ye woods ! ” exclaimed Eoh, waving his 
hand tragically. 

“ But not ye waters ! ” added Dick, with a laugh. 

“ With a fair wind we should soon touch Crofts- 
burg,” said Captain Watson; “but this will be slow 
work.” 

Slow enough surely. Dick and Bob proposed 
fishing as an expedient to while away the time. 
Mrs. Havens and Mr. Conover packed again, and 
made everything ready for a speedy going ashore 
when the port was reached. 

The sky had hazed over, and the sun gone under a 
cloud, so it was very pleasant sitting on deck. Mr. 
Meredith read aloud The Ancient Mariner, in his 
clear, flexible voice, and they were almost as idle 
as — 

“ .... a painted ship 
Upon a painted ocean.” 

“We shall have to wait for the last train surely,” 
said Mr. Conover. 


268 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Captain Watson crowded all sail and strained 
every nerve to catch the faintest breath of air by 
most ingenious tacking. Presently they came in 
sight of the chimney-tops ; and the irregular little 
town looked odd, it must be confessed, after a week 
spent with nature. 

About half past six they were in. A man was 
found to take the luggage to the station, and they 
all bade Captain Watson and Levi a hearty good-by, 
expressing their delight at the whole trip and their 
obligations for his kindness. 

“ It ’s been quite a treat to me as well,” he replied. 
“ Here ’s success to the longer voyage, young gentle- 
men ! May you have few storms and a fair wind ! ” 

They thanked him cordially. 

Mr. Conover proposed that they should go to the 
hotel and have some supper, but the ladies concluded 
they looked quite too much like newly landed emi- 
grants. Mr. Meredith found some peaches for them, 
and they whiled away the time until the train came 
along. 

Tlie days were shortening already, and by the time 
they reached , P)rookside it was dark enough, as the 
night had set in cloudy. 


THE LAST OP THE SUMMER. 


269 


“ It would be no joke to walk home,” exclaimed 
Rob; “and I believe there ’s nothing here that a 
benighted traveller can comfort himself with.” 

There were but few passengers beside them in this 
train. Not a hack or vehicle within sight, sure 
enough. 

“ Charlie and I could do very well,” said Miss Jessie. 

“ AYe ’re all going to report at head-quarters first,” 
declared Mr. Mereditli, very positively. 

There was a rumbling of wheels, and in a moment 
Hugh had turned the corner with the ponies and the 
family carriage. The ladies were stowed in, and the 
rest held a consultation. Dick was quite sure that 
lie could get a team ; and so he did, the rest follow- 
ing suit soon after. 

Mrs. Alston had gone over at five, and then given 
up the travellers. Not so Hannah, who had cooked 
a bountiful supper, and was still keeping it warm. 

A great shout announced their arrival, and Mrs. 
Alston hurried out. 

“ Here we are all, mamma, safe and sound ! ” ex- 
claimed Kathie, joyously, as she sprang to her 
mother’s arms. 

There was a great time as they marched into the 


270 KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 

library, — a very fair looking company indeed, a 
little burned by sun and wind, but rosy, well, and 
brimful of happiness. 

“ The most splendid time in the world ! ” declared 
Eob. 

The party would have dispersed immediately, but 
Mrs. Alston insisted upon their having some supper. 
They all declared they were not a bit hungry, but 
Hannah’s savory preparations were too tempting to 
be long resisted. Then Dick and IVIr. Langdon took 
their departure, echoing Eob’s verdict that it had 
been a splendid time. 

They would fain have kept Miss Jessie, but she 
declared that she had nothing to wear on Sunday, 
and that she knew the family would be anxious ; so, 
after half a dozen good-bys, she and CharEe drove 
off, Mr. Meredith accompanying them. 

It was midnight before they were in bed at Cedar- 
wood. 'Katliie had become so accustomed to the 
rolling motion of the boat that it seemed at first as 
if she should never go to sleep, and this great wide 
bed was so different from her little berth on board 
the Pilgrim. 

They were none the worse for their journey on the 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


271 


following morning, though Aunt Euth was rather 
weary. Kathie could n’t help thinking of the 
Ancient Mariner and his feelings when he first saw 
the lighthouse top and the kirk of his own countree. 
She did indeed give humble and hearty thanks for 
the watchful care that had protected her on every 
hand, and filled her life so full of pleasures. 

Eob found himself quite a hero in Brookside, to 
his great satisfaction. He had been out in a yacht 
for a whole week, lost in the woods one night, had 
hunted, fished, seen the furnaces at Thoresby and 
explored an iron-mine. There was enough to talk 
about until school commenced. 

Still, he came back to his old love, the Jessie, with 
a very loyal heart. His nautical phrases were quite 
the admiration of the boys, and he was more than 
proud to take the lead in firing at a mark. Uncle 
Eobert explained to his mother that he had become 
something of an expert with a gun, and, though she 
still had a little womanly fear about it, she said 
nothing. 

They were very sorry to part with Mrs. Havens, 
and Mr. Meredith declared that he must take a run 
to the city, but that he would promise to spend a 


272 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDaRWOuD. 


week with them before the pleasant weather ended. 
He seemed quite like a second uncle to the children, 
who gi’ew daily more fond of him. 

Kathie went back to her gardening and her music. 
The bed of heliotrope was still in full glory, and the 
pansies grew larger and more velvety, if such a thing 
could he. The vases were filled constantly, and the 
house was delicately fragrant. More than one in^ 
valid in the town smiled gratefully over Kathie’s 
gift of flowers. 

Of all who had welcomed Kathie, Gypsy was not 
last or least. He seemed fairly wild with joy. 

“ Poor fellow ! Did you miss me much ? ” asked 
Kathie. 

I think he did,” answered her mother, “ though 
he has been very gay and cheerful, hut I did not dare 
let him out. Some days he would call in such a cun- 
ning fashion, and seemed to wait for a reply, looking 
all round with his sharp black eyes.” 

“ He ’s a darling ” ; and Kathie kissed him with the 
utmost tenderness, -w'hile he gave her a sly wink. 

Freddy wanted to hear all about the sail over and 
over again, and his attention seemed to be divided 
between that and the mystery of jacks tones that he 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


273 


was trying to master ; but his brain was apt to get 
confused between “ ravelly ones and twos/’ “ peas in 
the pot,” “ horse in the stable,” and riding the ele- 
phant,” and Uncle Eobert’s pound bade fair to gain 
pebbles enough for a secure foundation. 

There were several earnest discussions about 
schools during these days. Uncle Eobert took a 
journey to examine into the merit of two or three, 
but his nephew preserved a happy indifference. A 
new school for girls was to be started at Brookside 
by a young widow lady, sister of one of the clergy- 
men of the place. Her circulars were sent round 
soliciting scholars among the wealthier families. 

“ Did you put down Kathie’s name ? ” asked her 
uncle. 

“ Ho,” replied Mrs. Alston, “ but I thought of 
it.” 

0, don’t send me,” said Kathie, pleadingly, and 
she twined her arms around her uncle’s neck. 

« Why, birdie ? ” 

“ Because I don’t want to go.” 

'^Hot a very logical reason”; and he laughed. 

I can study just as well at home, and you are 
the darlingest teacher in the world.” 

18 


274 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. ' 


“ And what else ? ” 

“ I like it,” in her pretty, arch way. 

“ I will give you mine. I think children need 
each other’s society, and not only the incentive but 
the discipline of school and regular habits of study. 
You have done very well this year, all interruptions 
being considered.” 

“ But I ’ll try my very best,” she said, coaxingly. 

" To like school ? ” 

She shook her head with slow, dainty wilfulness. 

Not if I wished it ? ” 

That sobered her, but still she was silent. 

Uncle Eobert took the sweet little face in his 
hands and looked steadily into the lustrous eyes. 
She saw that he was in earnest. 

“ Yes,” she said, choking down the remembrance of 
happy dreams. 

Her reward was a tender kiss. 

She wandered about the garden afterward, and 
could not help shedding a few team. This free life 
had been so gay and pleasant, and the restraint of a 
strange school did not look at all attractive. It was 
her duty, however, to make herself content. 

There was Gypsy asleep on a branch of honey- 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


275 


suckle, and though he opened his eyes at her call, he 
did not answer. She took him carefully down, and, 
as it was near night, carried him into the house, hut 
he did not seem very lively. 

“ Perhaps it is because I am dull myself,” slie 
thought, .as she shut the cage door ; so she tried her 
best to be cheerful, but he curled himself into a ball 
and was silent. 

Alas, dear, charming little Grypsy ! Not hearing 
any welcome the next morning she ran to the cage. 
Gypsy was down on the floor by his drinking-glass, 
his feathers sadly limp and ruffled, and his eyes with 
a strange filmy look in them. She took him in her 
hand and ran to Uncle Eobert. 

“ 0,” she exclaimed, in a frightened voice, some- 
thing is the matter with my darling Gypsy ! Do 
look at him ! ” 

Gypsy gave his legs a convulsive twitch and par- 
tially opened his eyes. 

Birdie ! Gypsy ! don’t you know me ? ” she cried, 
in distress. 

The little thing roused himself and tried to rise. 
He looked almost as if he smiled, then a shiver ran 
through his tiny frame. 


276 


KATHIE’S SUxMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


“ He must be very sick/’ said Uncle Eobert, 
gravely. 

“ O, what can we do for him ? ” 

As she spoke she pressed him against her cheek 
and kissed his soft yellow feathers. His little heart 
beat very faintly indeed, and his legs were cold. 

“ Let us take him to the kitchen. Eob, run up to 
Aunt Eutli and ask for a piece of soft flannel. We ’ll 
get him warm, and there are several remedies to 
give birds. Was he well yesterday ? ” 

Kathie remembered tliat he had not been quite 
as bright as usual toward night. Uncle Eobert took 
him. 

0 Kathie ! ” he exclaimed, suddenly, “ I am 
afraid that he is dying ? ” 

Kathie uttered a cry. Gypsy raised his head 
at the sound of the sweet, familiar voice, tender 
even in anguish, his eyes fluttered wearily, his head 
dropped. 

Kathie glanced at Uncle Eobert, but his face was 
very sad. Then she laid her own in his hands, 
and wept tears of bitter sorrow and longing for 
her bird. 

Aunt Euth returned with Eob. All that was left 


THE LAST OF THE SUMMER. 


277 


of restless, dancing Gypsy was a little ball of feavliers. 
The brilliant song was hushed forever, the glancing 
wings were stiffened, and the bright eyes had looked 
their last. Dear wise little Gypsy, with an almost 
human soul, will not the fadeless groves of the other 
country be brighter for such as you ? 

“ It seems as if he ought to go to heaven,” said 
Kathie between her sobs. We all want an immor- 
tality for the objects of our love in the first deep 
pang of sorrow. 

There was a sad, sad household that day. Uncle 
Uobert tried to comfort Kathie, and in the afternoon 
Miss Jessie came over. 

“ I 11 send you another bird,” she said, soothingly, 

“ O Miss Jessie, I believe I don’t want another. 
There never could be one so sweet and cunning 
again, and it would only make my heart ache think- 
ing of him.” 

Eob made a little coffin, and they buried it just at 
sunset under a beautiful white rosebush, where he 
had swung in the summer air many a time, and 
talked perhaps with the roses. 

“ It is the last day of summer,” Uncle Eobert said, 
slowly, as they walked back to the house. 


278 


KATHIE’S SUMMER AT CEDARWOOD. 


Katliie climbed on his knee as he seated himself 
in the porch, and, burying her face on his shoulder, 
cried softly. Yes, the bright, beautiful summer was 
gone. Could tliere ever be another like it ? 


THE END 


B«21YSi.*p 


BY 

OPULAR 

AUTHORS 


SEVEN DAUGHTERS. 

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“ Sydnie Adriance,” “ Home Nook,” “ Nelly Kennard’s Kingdom." 

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By Sophie May. xamo, cloth, illustrated. $1.50. 

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Or the Girls of Hive Hall. By Adelaide F. Samuels, Author of “ Dick and 
Daisy Stories,” “ Dick Travers Abroad,” &c. x6mo, cloth, illustrated. $x.50. 
The story of Hive Hall is full of life and action, and told in the same happy 
style which made the earlier life of its heroine so attractive, and caused the Dick and 
Daisy books to become great favorites with the young. What was said of the younger 
books can, with equal truth, be said of Daisy grown up. 


The above six books are /urnished in a handsome box for ^q.oo, or told 
separate, by all booksellers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt 0/ price. 

LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston 


B OQKSn'_^_^HOOD 

5 FOR 


P opular 
AUTHORS 


AN AMERICAN GIRL ABROAD. 

By Adeline F. Trafton. i6mo, cloth, illustrated. $1.50. 

)rie of the most bright, chatty, wide-awake books of travel ever written. It abounclt 
Ik ^formation, is as pleasant reading as a story book, and full of the wit and sparkle ol 
“ An American Girl ” let loose from school and ready for a frolic. 


ONLY GIRLS. 

By Virginia F Townsend, Author of “That Queer Girl,” &c., &c. lamo, cloth 

illustrated. $1.50. 

“ It is a thrilling story, written in a fascinating style, and the plot is adroitly handled.” 
It might be placed in any Sabbath School library, so pure is it in tone, and yet It is sc 
free from the mawkishness and silliness that mar the class of books usually found there, 
that the veteren novel reader is apt to finish it at a sitting. 

THE DOCTOR’S DAUGHTER. 

By Sophie May, Author of “ Our Helen,” “ The Asbury Twins,” &c. lamo, cloth, 

illustrated. $1.50. 

“ A delightful book, original and enjoyable,” says the Brow'/iville Echo. 

“ A fascinating story, unfolding, with artistic touch, the young life of one of our im- 
pulsive, sharp-witted, transparent and pure-minded girls of the nineteenth century,” 
says The Contributor, Boston. 

SALLY WILLIAMS. 

The Mountain Girl. By Mrs. Edna D. Cheney, Author of “ Patience,” “ Social 
Games,” “ The Child of the Tide,” &c. lamo, cloth, illustrated. $1.50. 

Pure, strong, healthy, just what might be expected from the pen of so gifted a writer 
as Mrs. Cheney. A very interesting picture of life among the New Hampshire hills, 
enlivened by the tangle of a story of the ups and downs of every-day life in this out- 
of-the-way locality. The characters introduced are quaintly original, and the adven- 
tures are narrated with remarkable skill. 


LOTTIE EAMES. 

Or, do your best and leave the rest. By a Popular Author. i6mo, illus. $1.50. 

“ A wholesome story of home life, full of lessons of self-sacrifice, but always brighi 
and attractive in its varied incidents.” 


RHODA THORNTON’S GIRLHOOD. 

By Mrs. Mary E. Pratt. i6mo, cloth, illustrated. $1.50. 

A hearty and healthy story, dealing with young folks and home scenes, with sletgk 
Ing, fishing and other frolics to make things lively. 


The above six volumes are furnished in a handsome box, for %q.O0, or soli 
separately by all booksellers, or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price by 

LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers. Bosto* 







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